FLIXTON Fire put on a good display but fell short of contesting the Greater Manchester Cricket League T20 final at Woodbank Cricket Club on Sunday.

Flixton took on Clifton Kingfishers and it was a shaky start for their openers, losing Luke Perry and Alton Beckford early on.

Usman Tariq and Marlon Welcome-Goodman brought Flixton through the game and finished the rain-ridden innings on 176-5.

An early wicket from Welcome-Goodman put Clifton Kingfishers on the ropes in reply and the wickets followed for Flixton from Tariq.

Young Connor De'ath then sent ex-Lancashire professional Gareth Cross back to the pavilion for the second time in a matter of weeks.

Catches from Adil Baig, Lee Claffey and De'ath, and a late wicket from Welcome-Goodman, all led to a tense last over.

It was going to be a difficult over for Baig to bowl with the wet conditions and Clifton managed to score enough runs to win with one wicket and one ball to spare.

The previous day, in the league, Flixton won at Denton St Lawrence.

They batted first with Perry scoring 69 and Tariq a much-needed 43 as they amassed a total of 209.

The second innings saw opening bowler Welcome-Goodman take three wickets, fellow West Indian Beckford two and Tariq three as Denton fell short, 192.