A CENTURY from Chris Thomas ensured Prestwich emerged with a perfect ten from their two homes games last weekend. An amazing encounter with Roe Green on Saturday saw them scrape past a target of 65, while Sunday proved less stressful with a 100-run defeat of Dukinfield to give the Heys side a maximum 10-point haul.
Their unbeaten start puts them joint top of the Lees Lancashire County League with Denton West after four games.
Ten was also the magic figure for professional Amal Dalugoda who followed up his 6 for 16 on Saturday with 4 for 20 – for a combined return of 10 for 36.
The hundred for vice captain Thomas was the second of his young career, and helped Prestwich post a total of 194. He struck 13 boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 102, off 95 balls.
It followed a circumspect start with new signing Paul Rogers and Dalugoda both making 20, and the rate was barely above two runs an over at the halfway point.
Skipper Chris Humphreys helped to inject some pace with 23 in a 66-run partnership before he was run out and Thomas then took up the mantle in a 62-run partnership with teenager Sam Holden who gave responsible support.
Humphreys soon had the visiting batsmen on the rack at 12 for 2 and his opening seven-over blast conceded just nine runs.
Akram (35) and Gandy (21) gave some top order resistance but the arrival of Dalugoda and Phil Kyle (4 for 24) to the bowling crease sparked their demise for 94.
On Saturday, a game of 20/20 proportions was unintentionally played out with Roe Green, and despite shovelling the visitors out for just 65 on a very lively wicket, Prestwich twice looked as if they had grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory.
Dalugoda’s six wicket haul sparked a Green collapse from 61 for 4, as their last six wickets fell for just four runs. Oliver Holt and Humphreys also claimed two wickets apiece.
But opposing pro Danny Jones ( 5 for 19) proved a real handful on the tricky pitch and with the help of opening partner Gareth Williams (3 for 39), they reduced Prestwich to 12 for 5. Thomas and Steve Orrell reached double figures before succombing, and at 36 for 7, Green looked on the verge of a startling victory.
Holden showed some grit but was caught for 13, before Humphreys played a vital innings, with solid assistance from Jamie McAndrew, as they doggedly carved out the remaining 19 runs for victory and team-mates heaved a huge sigh of relief!
