3XI – THIRDS EASE PAST MILL

Friday July 3rd 2009 | Cricket

It was the turn of East Lancs Papermill to be entertained at Heys Road this week. After losing the toss Andy Heaver’s side were sent out to field in the blistering Manchester sunshine.

Kerambrum and Ward opened the bowling attack for the 3XI and it wasn’t long before Ward’s hard work was repaid with the early wicket of the Dwyer. Adam Cheshire then replaced Dave Cheese and was unlucky to only walk away with the one wicket after a fantastic spell bowling.

The wickets continued to fall steadily with the Prestwich fielder holding their catches and putting in a solid performance in the field. The opposition finished on a below par 120-9 after 45 overs despite fine bowling at the end from Bhaumik and Kerambrum as Prestwich tried desperately to get the 10th wicket and thus an extra point.

With Andy ‘Tendulkar’ Jones taking a break from destroying bowling attacks across the North West, Prestwich opened with Jack Scargill and Mike Magnall. The ELPM opening bowlers, obviously high on morale after winning a ‘Right Said Fred’ lookalike competition drew first blood with the removal of Magnall for 6.

Jamie McAndrew then steadied the ship with some superb trademark unorthodox cover drives. When Scargill was dismissed with the score on 65, Prestwich looked comfortable but still had a long way to go.

Cue Andrew Flintoff aka Sam Holden who after eating 4 cakes at tea and then stuffing another 5 in his pocket for later had built up enough energy to blast a fantastic 41 off what couldn’t have been more than 20 balls.

Holden and McAndrew carried there bats and the Heys side won comfortably with 25 overs to spare. With only 1 defeat all season confidence is high as the the 3XI remain on course to challenge for silverware this season.