3XI – THIRDS REMAIN UNBEATEN

Thursday June 11th 2009 | Cricket

The team met up at their scheduled time at 12.30pm despite the threat of heavy traffic caused by the nearby Oasis concert. There was a slight concern that we may get some rain and also that the second umpire had not turned up, however, the covers were taken off and Andy Jones stepped into the breach as the second umpire.

Captain Heaver won the toss and Prestwich stuck to their usual strategy of batting first and defending any score with their dynamite attack.

Tom Gibson opened the batting with James Wharmby and the two made a solid start putting on 35 for the first wicket. This brought Magnall to the crease who was eager to show the Prestwich faithful what he could do.

Following Gibson’s dismissal for a fluent 40 Magnall showed good form with useful partnerships with Matt Walsh and Andy Heaver until he was eventually dismissed with the score on 125 for 4 with Prestwich in a good position to kick on.

Tom Ward was Prestwich’s number 6 and he came into bat in good form after last weeks innings at Saddleworth. He gave the innings the impetus it needed with a couple of big sixes with support from debutant Baumik and latterly Matt Smith.

Ward finished on 42 not out and Prestwich had a more than competitive total of 196 on the board.

Into the second half and it was the opening bowling partnership of Ward and Kerambrum who made early in roads into the Failsworth batting and the score was soon 40 for 7.

Despite good wickets from Walsh and Kirk Walmsley, Prestwich did their usual fall asleep after 25 overs and a last wicket stand of 42 was built up. With the regular bowlers completely clueless as to how to get the last wicket the ball was thrown to Harris Aziz whose donkey drop leg spinners did the trick and another 5 points were secured.