PRESTWICH Cricket Club sealed the Lancashire County League First Division title with an emphatic nine-wicket win against nearest rivals Denton West on Saturday, and delighted captain Andy Bradley is already targeting more success.
After clinching the league and Walken Cup double with two games to spare in their final season in the league, Prestwich captain Andy Bradley is now setting his sights on repeating the feat in the newly-formed Greater Manchester structure next year.
The moment we won the league ? ??? @PrestwichSport pic.twitter.com/CILicRPCpx
— Ali Raza (@ali_raza31) August 29, 2015
“It’s a brilliant feeling to have won the double. I’m really proud,” he said.
“It’s been a fantastic team effort. The commitment from the players has been exceptional. There is a really good buzz around the group.
“We knew we had a really strong side and were hopeful we could do something special but to actually go out and do it and prove that we are the best is fantastic.
“It’s part one and two of a four-part ambition completed.
“Now we want to go and see if we can win both trophies again next year in the GMCL.”
Second-placed Denton West are the only team to have beaten Prestwich in the league this season, and the newly-crowned champions were looking for revenge at Heys Road in the title decider following a narrow two-run defeat in June.
South African Ryan Stanbury (5-31) and Sam Holden (1-31) both notched up their 60th wickets of the season as the Prestwich bowlers made light work of the Windsor Park outfit’s batting line-up.
South African Stanbury took 5-31 including three maidens from his 14 overs, Tom Scott took (4-17) also got in on the act from 42 balls and Holden took 1-31 as the visitors were out dismissed for 90.
Wicketkeeper James Wharmby also took five catches – including four of the five opening batsmen – to reach 150 catches in his career.
Sixth batsman Hamish Dunlop (56) top scored for West with 56 while four of his team-mates were dismissed for ducks.
In reply, professional Marty Walters (46 not out) and Wharmby (30no) guided hit unbeaten scores of 46 and 30 respectively as Prestwich to the target with 50 overs to spare. Stanbury also contributed with 12.
League and Cup double winners 2015 pic.twitter.com/5GICG5SZKK
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) August 29, 2015
“Considering they are our nearest challengers in the league, it underlines how strong we are to come away with such an emphatic win,” said Bradley. “Everyone in the team was up for it.
“We wanted to get the league title done so we could enjoy the last couple of weekends without any pressure.”
Prestwich travel to fifth-placed Dukinfield on Saturday in their penultimate game of the season.
“They’ll be trying to win to secure a Lancashire Knockout spot so we’ll have to be in form again. To finish having only lost once all season which would be incredible,” said Bradley.
