EARLY PACESETTERS

by | Saturday May 9th 2015 | Cricket

Prestwich’s impressive start to the season continued in a weekend that saw the team go five points clear at the top of Division One and progress to the next round of the ECB National Club Championship.

Saturday’s league visit of Roe Green looked somewhat in doubt after the Friday rainfall but the overnight showers didn’t materialise as forecast and the ground cleared up sufficiently for play to start on time.

Batting first, Prestwich found it tough going at the start, posting just 11 runs off the first ten overs which included the early dismissal of Ryan Stanbury (2).

But that rate soon improved as the Prestwich score climbed in to three figures with Martin Walters and James Wharmby both reaching half-centuries.

Despite losing Wharmby soon after for 51, Walters, now paired with Sam Holden, kept the scoreboard ticking over and reached his maiden club century at 187-2 with six overs remaining.

Holden’s search for quick end of innings runs came to and end with a useful 45 while Walters finished unbeaten on 126 in a Prestwich total of 242-4.

After tea, Stanbury’s brilliant opening spell tied up an end with just 8 runs coming off his first 8 overs while Holden (6-60) regularly took wickets as the visitors never really threatened the Prestwich score.

Tom Gibson’s ‘awesome’ catch sealed the 5 points with Roe Green all out for 145. Glossop’s loss at home to Dukinfield meant Andy Bradley’s side moved five points clear at the top of Division One.

On Sunday, attention switched to an ECB National Club Championship second round tie as Westhoughton of the Bolton League travelled to Heys Road.

The visitors opening pair of Houghton and Naylor (44) got Westhoughton off to a solid start before the latter was caught by Bradley off Tom Scott’s bowling with the score on 64.

As the score climbed in to the 120’s before Houghton’s dismissal on 35, Prestwich looked set for a substantial run chase after the interval. That was until three additional Westhoughton wickets fell for just four runs, pegging the visitors back to 133-5 with 19 overs remaining.

A Westhoughton recovery sent them on to 210 before Honour was caught and bowled by Holden on 35. That signalled the start of the end for the Bolton side as their last four wickets went for just 17 runs giving Prestwich a target of 228 to win.

Another shakey start sent Stanbury and Scott back to the pavilion early on with another two Prestwich wickets falling before the team managed to get to a hundred.

But Ali Raza and Tom Gibson dug deep and started turning the match back in favour of the home side.

Gibson was run out for 47 as Prestwich got within touching distance of their target while Raza was caught soon after on 90. But now with only 10 runs needed off the last ten overs, it was only a matter of minutes before Prestwich booked their place in the third round.

That third round will see Prestwich travel to Hyde CC of the Cheshire ECB Premier League on Sunday 31st May.