It’s been an excellent start for the A team with three wins out of three – Mr T would be very proud! The side started off with a 37-run victory away at Winton where Joe Humphreys top scored with 10 in the Prestwich total of 234.
(For the non-junior connoisseurs, the side starts off with 200 on the board and lose four runs for every wicket.)
Joe also took a wicket without conceding a run in his three overs, while Zain Shabir also claimed two wickets as Winton made 197. Nathan Williams performed well in his first game as wicketkeeper.
Their next game at home to Worsley was bolstered by the inclusion of skipper Dominic Humphreys and Saad Khan, who had already been tasting cricket at under-13 level.
Saad hit 23 while Zak Bashir struck 18 and Dominic hit 13 as Prestwich totalled 267. It would have been more but the partnership of Luke Barrow and Michael Orrell saw three run-outs as young Michael unfortunately showed he had adopted his father’s running ability between the wickets.
In reply, Worsley made 211 with the bowling honours going to Zak Bashir as he took 2 for 2, but it was another solid bowling performance with all team members excelling.
A trip to Monton & Weaste saw the Prestwich team triumph by 60 runs as they amassed 310. Callum Percival had an excellent all-round game, scoring 13 and taking 3 for 11 in his two overs. Luke Barrow scored 11 and Dominic Humphreys 10 while Saad Khan struck an excellent 32. Saad also had a fine game with three wickets for 22 in his three overs and Zak Bashir’s took a wicket for no runs off from two overs, although his run-up does seem to be getting longer and longer!
Nathan Bailey took a well-judged catch as Prestwich ran out comfortable winners.
B Team were just BBBBBBrilliant!
It’s taken a long time for the B team’s season to get under way – but it was worth the wait when they claimed a superb victory in just their second game.
Back on April 30th rain aborted their opening game at Roe Green after just seven overs, and the weather inconveniently put the blocks on their following fixtures until June 3rd.
They finally got to sample some early evening sunshine in their home game against Irlam – with sound testing and rehearsals for the Oasis concert thrown in for good measure.
With many of the team making their debuts, you could say it was more a case of “you’ve got a pee roll with it” as the youngsters got used to bowling on a junior-sized grass wicket.
But they gave it a good crack against a more experienced Irlam side who scored 299. Aaron Eaves, John Davidson and Chris McEnerney all took a wicket each.
Making 246 in reply, it was a promising first effort from the lads with Aaron Eaves chosen as man of the match.
Last Monday, the team visited Monton & Weaste and came away with a fantastic victory by six runs!
The team, captained by John Davidson, improved greatly for their first experience and their fielding was so good the opposition rated it “better than the A team” the week before.
Daniel Costello took two catches, one an excellent effort diving backwards, while Jake Woodthorpe was like iron man behind the stumps, taking a couple of blows during the innings, but getting back on his feet every time and taking a fine catch as well. It earned him man of the match.
Aaron Eaves, Daniel Costello, Zain Shabir, Zak Bashir and debutant Joe Prior all claimed a wicket apiece, with Aaron and Chris McEnerney making some excellent stops in the field.
The lads batted superbly in the second half, heeding the coach’s words of defending the good balls.
With the last pair of Zak Bashir and Joe Prior at the wicket, seven runs were needed off four overs.
Scores were level with one over remaining when Zak scampered a single and all Joe needed to do was block the remaining five balls. He safely defended the next two, before cheekily taking a single and when Zak pulled the next ball for four, victory was secured.
Coach Steve Orrell commented: “I was so impressed by the way they had learnt and improved so much from the first game, it was an absolute joy to see them grow in confidence and get a win under their belts.”
