KEVIN Hothersall proved to be an unlikely hero for Elton Vale as the part-time bowler came on for the final over and snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat against Walshaw's second team.

Mark Patten's side kept up the pressure at the top of Division Four West after claiming a share of the spoils in what was a low-scoring thriller.

After being bowled out for 87 on their home ground, Elton Vale came roaring back, making good use of a green pitch to reduce the visitors to 82-9 with just under four overs remaining.

But Walshaw managed to draw level, prompting the skipper to make a final throw of the dice.

"Our bowlers were fantastic on the day, but Walshaw were managing to get the edge away the odd ones and twos," said Patten.

"Kevin is genuinely quick, but does not bowl much, I just thought I might as well try something a bit different, see if he could send some deliveries down that they could not hit.

"The tail-ender played and missed the first two balls then just dollied up the third one for an easy catch.

"It was an unbelievable finish, I have never been involved in a game as tight as that."

Elton Vale have made great strides since Patten arrived midway through last season.

And after taking up the reins as captain this term they have put themselves in with a great shout of claiming the Division Four West title, or at least finishing in the top two to earn promotion.

Mohammed Ashraf gave Elton Vale something to bowl at, scoring 40 of their 87 runs.

Patten (4-11) and Ali Shah (4-28) then shared eight wickets to put their side within sight of victory, but it was Hothersall's 1-0 off three balls that proved crucial.

Elsewhere in the division, ELPM continue to struggle in the bottom half after losing by 71 runs at home to Flixton's second team, while Tottington St Johns were unable to add to their three victories, losing by six wickets at home to Roe Green seconds.

Rick Carr did his best to force the issue, scoring an unbeaten 56, but Roe Green had not trouble chasing down their total of 139.

In the top tier, Greenmount bounced back from recent defeats with a confidence-boosting 13-run victory at home to high-flying Clifton.

Openers Andy Kerr (57) and Ryan Senior (40) put on 87 for the first wicket and while Clifton's pacy young attack got the visitors back into the game, an unbeaten 45 from 42 balls from Danny Hornby helped edge the total up to 222.

Senior then produced the goods with the ball as well, taking 4-55, while Darron Foy (3-23) swept up the tail to force the win and put Greenmount back in the frame for at least a top-four finish.

Bury and Unsworth, meanwhile, remain in the relegation places as the season approaches the halfway point.

Unsworth are second bottom after a seven-wicket defeat at Denton St Lawrence and after making strides up the table recently, fourth-bottom Bury took a backwards step after falling to an 84-run defeat at fellow strugglers Edgworth.

Division One leaders Walshaw bounced back from a first defeat of the league season to claim a vital 13-run victory at home to fourth-placed Winton.

Jack McClung hit 60 from 70 balls on a day when bowlers were in the ascendancy, an innings that turned out to be a match-winner for Walshaw, although they looked in danger of falling to a second straight defeat after being bowled out for 153.

Liam Riley (3-26), Kendrick Hatton (3-56) and Ryan Tazelaar (2-49) were the only bowlers needed as a run out from Matthew Davis brought about the end of a tight contest.

Elsewhere in the division, Elton moved up to sixth place following a four-wicket win at Dukinfield, and Woodbank, who travel to Walshaw on Saturday, are fifth after a disappointing five-run defeat at Swinton Moorside.

In Division Two, Radcliffe remain bottom after a seven-wicket defeat at front-runners Stand, while Brandon Diplock (4-44 and 24 not out) inspired a seven-wicket win for Edenfield, in fourth, at second-placed Denton.

And Brooksbottom claimed a bonus point despite falling to a 48-run defeat at Flowery Field, thanks to 68 in 40 balls from Zeb Qureshi, who hit five sixes to push up his side's total to 157-8 in a reduced overs match.

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RESULTS
Saturday
GMCL Premier Division: 
Denton St Lawrence 133-3 Unsworth 129. Denton St Lawrence won by 7 wkts.
Edgworth 275-9 Bury 191-8. Edgworth won by 84 runs.
Egerton 169 Prestwich 168. Egerton won by 1 run.
Greenmount 222 Clifton 209. Greenmount won by 13 runs.
Division One: Elton 113-6 Dukinfield 111. Elton won by 4 wkts.
Swinton Moorside 200 Woodbank 115. Swinton Moorside won by 5 runs.
Walshaw 153 Winton 140. Walshaw won by 13 runs.
Division Two: Edenfield 92-3 Denton 88. Edenfield won by 7 wkts.
Flowery Field 206 Brooksbottom 158-8. Flowery Field won by 48 runs.
Stand 103-3 Radcliffe 102. Stand won by 7 wkts.
Division Four West: ELPM 154 Flixton 2nd XI 225-9. Flixton 2nd XI won by 71 runs.
Elton Vale 87 Walshaw 2nd XI 87. Match tied.
Tottington St Johns 139 Roe Green 2nd XI 140-4. Roe Green 2nd XI won by 6 wkts.
Sunday
Derek Kay Per-Fit second round: Clifton 210-8 Edenfield 77. Clifton won by 133 runs.
Denton St Lawrence 70-1 Stand 69. Denton St Lawrence won by 9 wkts.
Heywood DNB Prestwich 203-8. Heywood won on a bowl off.
South West Manchester 39 Walshaw 41-1. Walshaw won by 9 wkts.
Lancashire League: Ramsbottom 220-6 Nelson DNB. Match drawn.
Fixtures
Saturday
GMCL Premier Division: Denton West v Unsworth, Egerton v Bury, Flixton v Prestwich, Greenmount v Denton St Lawrence. 
Division One: Elton v Roe Green, Walshaw v Woodbank. 
Division Two: Droylsden v Radcliffe, Edenfield v Westleigh, South West Manchester v Brooksbottom, Stand v Stretford. 
Division Four West: ELPM v Walshaw 2nd XI, Elton Vale v Winton 2nd XI, Tottington St Johns v Elton 2nd XI.
Lancashire League: Burnley v Ramsbottom.
Sunday
Lancashire Knockout: Lowerhouse v Ramsbottom, Bury v Clitheroe.