The heatwave saw Prestwich 2nd team too hot to handle, the third team in sizzling hot form, but the first team got their fingers badly burned.
The weather was balmy, and the cricket at times was equally ‘barmy’, but never dull!
The 2nd XI beat Flixton 2nd XI by just one run in a high-scoring thriller in the Per-Fit 2nd XI GMCL Cup last Sunday. This followed on from their league triumph over Westleigh 1st XI, who had beaten Prestwich 1st XI earlier this season. See what I mean. Barmy.
The first team looked to be cruising to victory against Roe Green, needing 30 more runs to win before capitulating and losing seven wickets for 13 runs. See what I mean. Barmy.
The 2nd XI welcomed Westleigh to The Heys on Saturday and could only manage a total of 130, with Haris Aziz topping the scoring charts on 33.
But the visitors lost their first six wickets for 28 runs as Steven Ritchie (pictured) went on a hot streak to grab five early wickets and finish with 5 for 40. There was a bit of late order resistance , but a return of 3 for 18 from Nick Carter ensured Westleigh got no more than 79.
Twenty four hours later, Prestwich 2nd XI again batted first but made a better fist of it, racking up 220 for 8, with Daniel Ahern and Adam Taylor each hitting 40, Olly Holt 39, Aaryaman Roy 36 and Qasim Memon 27.
Flixton played their part in an enthralling game, as they looked second favourites when reaching 60 for 4 in the 21st over, but their middle order rallied with McKiernan (49), Riley (43), Walker (32) and Hopper (28) taking the game to a nail-biting finale. Tom Scott kept his cool bowling the final over as Flixton fell one short.
It was a team performance in the truest sense of the word, as every bowler used claimed at least one wicket and the batting was solid despite no-one making 50.
The third team gained a five wicket win at Thornham, who were bowled out for 146 instigated by a fine haul of 5-46 from Karl West. Skipper Mike Mangnall made an unbeaten 61 in reply, well supported by Matthew Cuthbert who struck 32 to add to his eyecatching figures of 3 for 3 from seven overs.
The 1st XI made the short trip to Roe Green, and put on a very pleasing first-half display to dismiss the hosts for 152.
The turning point was the run out of ex-Prestwich pro Danny Jones for 49, courtesy of a smart direct throw from Mike Hudson. That left the score on 81 for 3, and wickets fell regularly as the Prestwich attack seized their chance, and only Ashley Williams withstood them to be undefeated on 29. Skipper Andy Bradley took an excellent 5 for 38 from 15 tight overs, while Ryan Stanbury and Nathan Bailey picked up a couple of wickets each. It was also encouraging to see Sam Holden return to the attack after injury and bowled well despite failing to pick up a wicket.
Green struck twice early to reduce Prestwich to 15 for 2, but pro Gihahn Cloete and Sam Holden repaired the damage with a steady partnership of 73. Whilst Cloete had a bit of luck on his side, he grafted well for 54, hitting seven boundaries, until mis-timing a full toss and was caught by Needham off Ben McMahon (4 for 20). Stanbury and Holden then took the score to 123 for 3 in untroubled fashion, before the game turned on its head in the space of 10 balls. Stanbury holed out at long-on off McMahon, and three wickets then fell in the next over from Guy Emmett (4 for 40). Holden was caught at square leg, and Alex Taylor and Nathan Bailey were both bowled in a remarkable over.
The score now read 123 for 7 and the momentum was with the home side as Prestwich wilted in the heat. They could only add a further 13 runs to end on 136 all out and fall 17 runs short.
Without taking anything away from the amazing fightback from Roe Green, the shoulder of blame for such a dramatic collapse must be shared amongst the Prestwich batting ranks. One of the top order, who had got themselves in, needed to have seen it through, but the middle and lower order should have been capable of mustering 30 runs between them on a wicket that had no devil in it.
Ironically, the defeat came almost a year since they lost to Egerton with a similarly drastic and unforeseen collapse.
But the team have the chance to exact some form of revenge as Prestwich Heat meet Roe Green Renegades this Friday in the final T20 group game at The Heys, starting at 6.15pm.
Bamford Fieldhouse are the first team’s opponents in the league at The Heys on Saturday while the second XI travel to play Edenfield 1st XI.
All support is welcome.
