Damon Montgomery’s quickfire 75 helped Prestwich’s second team through to the quarter-finals of the Hulme Trophy with a 120 run win at Irlam. The previous day, figures of 3 for 15 from both John Walters and skipper Pete Lorenzini eased Prestwich to a seven wicket win as they took all five points to keep up the pressure in Division Two.
Saturday – Irlam won the toss and elected to bat.
Prestwich applied some extreme early pressure at one stage looking like they would take a wicket with every ball they bowled. Openers Jonny Walters and youngster Nick Carter were on fire with Walters striking first to remove Iqbal following a good catch by Adam Cheshire at cover. Carter removed former Prestwich man Matt Hood with a great delivery in the next over with the aid of a fine slip catch by John Fiorentini.
Irlam were in disarray when a third wicket was taken with just one run on the board as Walters trapped Lowery LBW, Walters then bowled Harris soon after to make it 17 for 4. Walters ended up with impressive figures of 3 for 15 off just 11 overs. Carter picked up another before the end of his spell as fellow youngster Whamby stumped Razza to leave the scoreboard on 23 for 5.
After a mini recovery of 21 runs ’the youth’ were at it again as all rounder Tom Gibson removed Aslam following another Cheshire catch.
Good work by Jamie McAndrew removed Khan and after skipper Pete Lorenzini removed the tail tea was taken with Prestwich pondering a target of 75 runs for the 5 point victory.
Fiorentini was in no mood to give any hope to the home side making an unbeaten 28. He was well supported by Jamie (20), but it was Jon O’Connor (8 n.o.) who hit the winning rooms with a boundary to seal the 7 wicket win.
Sunday – Hulme Trophy time and after winning the toss again Irlam skipper Matt Hood this time chose to field first.
Prestwich suffered an early blow losing the returning Durham University man Richard Scargill (5) early on. Jamie McAndrew and John Fiorentini worked hard to soften the blow before Fordy (16) was caught behind off the bowling of left arm seamer Raza with the score on 53.
Prestwich were going well on 81 for 2 but then suffered a double blow when the impressive McAndrew was removed for 32 and Sean Haslam (17) in the very next over to leave the visitors on 84 for 4.
However following that blow Preswich rallied, James Whamby batting at 6 joined Adam Cheshire at the crease with 23 overs remaining and it was to be the start of a 23 over batting master class by the visitors. Prestwich did lose the hard working Cheshire (LBW for 8 with the score on 117) but a 114 run partnership between Damon Montgomery and Whamby took the game away from Irlam in less than 15 devastating overs.
Montgomery was in outstanding form as he struck 75 runs from just 56 balls faced until he was dismissed in the final over of the innings. Prestwich finished on 235 for 6 with the excellent James Whamby carrying his bat for a hard working and intelligent 34 run knock.
Throughout the Irlam reply the result was never in doubt as Prestwich picked up wickets at regular intervals eventually bowling out the hosts for 115.
Like in the league the day previously it was Carter who removed danger man Matt Hood. Making his 2nd team debut with the ball Joe Walmsley was impressive to say the least as he consistently made the Irlam batsman play with good line and length bowling. Walmsley reaped the rewards of this taking 2 for 8 off 6 excellent overs.
Adam Cheshire was then responsible for two ‘cool’ run outs. Montgomery and Lorenzini picked up two wickets a piece and Jonny Walters sealed the quarter final place when he bowled veteran Grindley.
