It was a typically solid all-round performance from David Blake’s men but the five wicket haul from Gunarathne and a century opening partnership from Mark Hooson and James Rawlinson really caught the eye.

Royton opener Ian Halliwell rather foolishly ran himself out without score and when Stevie Barker bowled Matthew Ward and overseas amateur Matthew Thomson opened his account by trapping Simon Harmer in front to reduce the visitors to 32 for 3.

It was far from plain sailing for the Australian though as he bowled ten no-balls in his seven overs finding a combination of the slope and soft underfoot conditions tricky.

Professional Luke Proctor and Tony Walsh steadied the innings with a 46 run partnership and Gaurav Dhar, 19, also got his head down and grafted but skipper Blake had turned to his professional and Chris Dewhirst and they worked their way steadily through the Royton batting.

Dewhirst accounted for Walsh, 23, and Paul Hughes - trapping both leg before - and he also weighed in with a good catch to complete his professional’s five-for when he ended a flurry from number ten Matthew Hodson which included two sixes.

Indeed it was one of only 13 boundaries conceded by the home side — no mean feat in the tight Scott Street arena - Gunarathne finishing with highly pleasing figures of 5 for 36 from 16 overs.

Rawlinson almost matched the boundary total of the Royton team single-handedly in a typically entertaining onslaught which meant that Walsden had victory wrapped up in the 26th over.

He was only there for 48 balls but of those deliveries seven reached the boundary and four sailed over it as he and Hooson put on 120 for the first wicket before Rawlinson was run out for 78.