ADLINGTON are one win away from a stunning Association promotion success, with captain Simon Trim urging them to enjoy their final-day home clash with Darcy Lever this weekend.

The Huyton Road side, unfancied in April, beat Tonge at Castle Hill on Saturday to leave the hosts needing snookers to go up.

And they did it in thrilling fashion by recovering from 18-5 and later defending a target of 147 to win by 16 runs.

Adlington lead the way by two points from Astley Bridge in third, who host champions Little Lever on Saturday. If both slip up, Tonge, now six points off second, could sneak back in with a bonus-point win at Eagley.

Adlington sub professional Mustafa Bashir and Sajawal Khan starred with bat and ball, hitting half-centuries and sharing seven wickets.

Adlington and Tonge went into the game level on points in second and third, and it was the hosts who won the toss.

When Trim fell, his side were 9-4 in the ninth over, with new-ball seamer Connor Lord wreaking havoc on the way to a superb 6-31 from 12 overs.

But Bashir, formerly of Heaton, shared a match-turning partnership of 97 for the sixth wicket with Khan, taking the score to 115-5. Adlington were later bowled out for 146 inside 34 overs.

“At 18-5, I had my head in my hands thinking ‘Oh no, this is Blackrod all over again (bowled out for 45 last month)’,” said Trim. “But the sub pro and Saj batted really well.

“They rebuilt and expanded afterwards, taking advantage of the bad ball.”

Bashir hit 53 off 60 balls and Khan top-scored with 56 off 49, including three sixes.

In reply, Tonge were 109-4 in the 35th over when overseas amateur Cameron Lucas fell to the seam of Bashir, the first of their last six wickets to fall for 21 as they were bowled out for 130 inside 43.

Bashir finished with 4-34 from 11.1 overs and Khan 3-24 from 12.

“I was getting worried when they were cruising along in the chase, I have to admit,” said Trim. “But it was a good win in the end.

“We didn’t expect to be where we are in the table at this stage of the season, and we knew it would be a tight league and would probably go down to the last game, given the amount of sides up there competing. Everyone knows we have a job to do on Saturday, but I’ve made the lads aware we’ve done brilliantly as a team this season even if we don’t win the game and go up. We should all be proud of each other.

“I don’t want them overthinking it.

“Darcy Lever have already beaten us once this year. We obviously have home advantage this time, but it will still be a tough game.

“We’ve just got to enjoy it, which was the message I put to the lads before the start of this game as well. Whatever happens, happens.”