Ever bought a firework which sparks into life but fizzles out tamely? It may be several weeks off Bonfire Night, but that could easily sum up Prestwich’s powderpuff finish to the season.
Facing eventual league runners-up Denton St Lawrence (DSL), a target of 111 should have been within the grasp of the Heys team.
But they fell 17 runs short after the batting frailties of recent weeks showed up again.
The result saw Prestwich – who were top of the league after five games – drop to sixth place in the Lees Lancashire County League, so missing qualification for the Lancashire Cup.
It was doubly disappointing as it marked the final game of one of the club’s most influential players, who has decided to move on next year.
Chris Humphreys himself has been the cataylst on which Prestwich has won a series of league and cup trophies during his nine-year spell with the club – sparking an unprecedented period of success – and it was a shame he could not be given a winning send-off.
Typically, he had been instrumental in ripping through the DSL top order as – on an unpredictable wicket – he grabbed three early wickets together with Oliver Holt and had the visitors on the rack at 42 for 6.
Humphreys bowled 14 overs, with six of them maidens, finishing with 3 for 24 to make his own inimitable mark on the game.
Holt bowled with zest to take 3 for 24, dismissing the big-hitting Steve Dublin for 18 thanks to an excellent diving catch from Tom Gibson, who was outstanding in the field and took two more catches.
Pro Ghulam Abbass, with a patient 28 not out, staged a mini-revival with Dave Morrell before Phil Kyle came into the attack and grabbed 3 for 26.
DSL were bound to apply early pressure, despite their title ambitions lookng over because leaders Denton West were in a strong position against Woodbank.
Nadeem struck before a run had been scored to dismiss Mike Hudson.
Hudson is also leaving for a new club, and will be another notable absentee from the side next year, having been brought up through the club’s “junior academy” and been a major player in recent successes.
Pro Amal Dalugoda mistimed an on-drive to Morrell for 9 but Steve Orrell and Chris Thomas took the score to 42 and looked to be riding the storm. However, the whole game changed in the space of three balls as Orrell was caught for 17 by Abbass, and then Dave Taylor and Gibson fell first ball in identical l.b.w fashion – giving Morrell a hat-trick.
And so Humphreys faced his last bat for Prestwich on a four-timer – which he survived.
However, he nor his colleagues lower down the order could give Thomas the support he needed as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
Morrell claimed figures of 4 for 10 from 10 overs and Thomas’s gritty occupation finally ended as the last man to fall for 45 with Prestwich stranded on 94.
With the second team also having a trophyless season, it has been left to the club’s third team to keep the hunt for silverware going.
Having finished runners-up in the Hodson Cup, they face two home games this weekend with an outside chance of lifting the league title if leaders Littleborough slip up in their final game.
