Bottom club Great Horton gave themselves a lift with a victory and a welcome six points against Drighlington - but they made unnecessary hard work of their task.

Skipper Gulbar Ahmed won the toss and put the visitors in to bat on a grassy wicket.

And after Drighlington had made a steady enough start, the skipper struck three incisive blows with his accurate pace bowling - dismissing Tony Redmond (4), Andy Baker (4) and Mohtashim Ali (10).

In fact with Zulfiqar Ahmed also chipping in with two wickets, Drighlington found themselves struggling at 35 for five and Great Horton looked nothing like their league position suggests.

Drighlington recovered a little through Basil King and Mohammed Ahmed but then in stepped leg-spinner Mohammed Sharafat with two quick leg before decisions and the visitors were suddenly 80 for seven.

What happened next was almost Basil Fawlty-like.

Suddenly with King, a welder by trade, launching into the some lusty blows, Great Horton became quickly demoralised, disorganised and at times inept. Heads dropped all around the pitch.

Misfields, dropped catches, a wide that went for four and overthrows gave the visitors renewed vigour and King quickly grasped his opportunity.

The former Windhill junior, who scored a century two weeks ago against his old club, took advantage of anything loose - and there was plenty of opportunity - and raced to an unbeaten 97 which included three sixes and 12 fours. Drighlington reached 186 for nine and couldn't believe their luck.

But Ahmed must have read the riot act to his team during the tea interval because the Great Horton players certainly regained their enthusiasm, pride and determination.

Mohammed Zahid (35) and Ziafat Ashraf (46) quickly put on 75 for the first wicket and it was spinner Andy Measey who broke up the partnership when he came on and clean bowled Zahid.

Several wickets then tumbled before Gulbar Ahmed (20) and Sharafat (34) got together to take the match by the scruff of the neck.

David Maloney got rid of both batsmen but with the weather fast closing in, Great Horton reached their target and deserved their third victory of the season.