ANDY Bradley’s inspired return to the first team ranks sent Prestwich spinning into top spot. Creaky knees may have taken their toll on the one-time opening bowler, but his switch to spin appears not to have lessened his wicket-taking potential.
Having spearheaded the second-team to cup and league triumphs over the past few seasons, he was drafted into the first team for their visit to Glossop, last year’s Lees Lancashire County League third placed team.
And his 5 for 30 was instrumental in pinning back the home side who were looking favourites to overhaul Prestwich’s mediocre total of 147 in a match reduced to 43 overs per side.
The Heys batting was indebted to professional Amal Dalugoda whose well-struck half century injected the end-of-innings flurry Prestwich desperately needed.
Both Gareth Barnes (30) and Mike Hudson (23) batted solidly and cautiously, but failed to capitalise on those foundations, and with a brief interruption for the rain, more flaying of the willow was required.
Dalugoda chalked up his fifty with a marvellous punt over the Glossop boundary wall.
The visitors succeeded in keeping the Glossop run rate down down to around two an over, but wickets were hard to come by and the home side was sitting quite comfortably at 60 for 1.
Bradley forced Toft into a miscued sweep for 26 but the score steadily rose to 87 before Bradley grabbed the key wicket of Perera for 27.
Infact, Perera’s leading edge would have looped over most less statuesque bowlers, but the ball fell comfortably into Bradley’s outstretched palms.
The wickets began to tumble but Glossop hope still lay with Bates until Dalugoda trapped him l.b.w for 27, and they hung on at 116 for 9 to claim a point while Prestwich gleefully grabbed four as the winning margin of 31 runs was far less comfortable than it reads.
With Denton West losing their first game of the season, it gave Prestwich a three-point cushion at the top of the league.
* The weather rained on Prestwich’s bid for Lancashire Cup glory on Sunday when they had visitors New Longton sending out SOS signals at 60 for 5.
Bradley and Dalugoda were again hogging the wickets column, but a deluge caused the match to be abandoned and the outcome lay with a bowl-out.
Tom Gibson and Mike Hudson hit the sticks for Prestwich but they were outbowled as the Preston side struck the wickets on four occasions, and they aquaplaned through to the next round.
