JOSH Gent hailed one of his proudest moments after captaining Little Lever to the Association title and the main prize of promotion on Saturday.

Gent’s men beat Darcy Lever at home, chasing 232, by six wickets with 6.3 overs to spare to move 14 points clear of Adlington and Tonge at the top with two games remaining.

With a maximum of 14 points available for both sides, who play each other this coming Saturday, it would come down to head to head if Little Lever did not get another point. And they have done the double over both teams this season.

“I’m massively massively proud to be a part of, and to captain, Little Lever Cricket Club,” said Gent, who hailed hundred hero Adam Carter.

“It’s a tight knit place is Little Lever. I know everybody in this village and they know me.

“To have won a league, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the Association or not, takes some doing. To win it at home is one of the proudest moments of my life. I’ve no kids, so it has to go down as one of the best days of my life.

“Winning the Bolton League in 2013 was an awesome achievement. I was proud that day, but I wasn’t captain.

“It’s tough, don’t get me wrong.

“Put it this way. I have a scaffolding business and employ 20 lads. I get paid well for going to work, but captaining Little Lever first team is three times as hard.

“I was at the club at 8am on Saturday trying to get the game on following the rain. But I’d do 50 per cent more to have another day like that.

Star seamer Curtis Anderton led the way with 4-49 from 18 overs as Darcy posted a testing 231-8, led by Dominic Gavin’s middle order 44.

In reply, the hosts slipped to 41-3 in the 16th over of their reply before Carter and professional Adil Nisar (54) shared a game-changing 132 for the fourth wicket.

Carter, 27 years old like his skipper, smashed 12 fours and seven sixes in 100 not out off 85 balls.

“Adam’s had 90-odd before, a 99 and now a hundred. We were all made up for him,” said Gent.

“What a knock! He smashed it and deserves a lot of credit because he’s been batting well these last few weeks.

“If you look at the scorecard, it looks like a doddle. We’ve won by six wickets with seven overs left. It wasn’t that easy, though.”

He added: “With the nucleus of the side we have and some good additions, I fancy us staying up next year.

“We’re looking at another professional. If we can get him and keep Adil as an amateur, which we can do, I think we’re in with a good shout.

“I don’t want to be playing in this league again.

“If you speak to me at the start of next season and ask for a prediction, I’ll say Little Lever will win the league. I say it every season because that’s what you play for.

“However, speaking now, it would be an achievement for the club to stay up.”