DAVE Kelly came in at the death to hit a courageous unbeaten 55 to help Greenmount squeeze past Horwich by one wicket.

The 26-year-old entered the action at number eight with the Brandlesholme Road men teetering on the brink after being reduced to 69-6 in pursuit of a relatively modest total of 134.

But he proceeded to hit nine fours and two sixes to guide Greenmount home with five balls to spare.

“It was absolutely unbelievable,” said club chariman Dave Willetts.

“I went in as last man needing 18 to win and faced three balls from their pro and got a four before Dave hit 14 in the next three balls off Andy Taylor.

“He showed a lot of courage as well, as Adam Street hit him a couple of times on the helmet and neck and then he proceeded to pull him off his nose for six. It was one of the best knocks I have seen and to think this time last year he was playing third-team cricket.”

Greenmount might have expected to coast to victory after the experienced attack of Mark Stewart (5-54) and Phil Heaton (3-47) made light work of the Horwich line-up to bowl them out for 134.

A seventh-wicket stand of 52 between David Morris (43) and under-15s batsman Tom Billington, who made 33, saved the home side’s blushes after they were reduced to 6-48.

But Greenmount did not fare much better in the face of lethal Horwich double act Street (5-60) and Babar Naeem (3-57) before Kelly came in to save the day.

Their sixth victory of the season saw the Brandlesholme Road men leapfrog their opponents to move into fifth place.

l Greenmount will travel to Bolton Association side Edgworth on Sunday in the last 16 of the Lancs KO, starting at 1pm.