The drama of the FA Cup Final and Premiership title race was not a patch on the twists and turns of an amazing match at The Heys last Saturday. And if ever there was a case of the score not telling the full story – this was it.
Whilst Prestwich had set a target of 151 for 7, it had been reduced after a third weather-induced delay to 121.
Visitors Cheetham Hill were left with 23 overs to chase it down and were coasting at 89 for 2 – when they lost eight wickets in the space of seven runs.
Chief destroyer was left-armer spinner Chris Jones who took 5 for 18, including three in one crucial over. But bowling partner Tom Gibson also played a vital role as he grabbed a brace of wickets and finsihed with 2 for 18 to send Hill crashing out for 96.
It was that kind of topsy-turvy game, for as much as Cheetham Hill appeared to be in cruise control in the second innings, Prestwich had proved the dominant force in the early exchanges.
In a game initially reduced to 41 overs, the Heys side rattled along to 123 for 2 off 21 overs, overcoming the loss of professional Danny Jones for 10, caught by Ghulam Abbas at gully.
Matt Wiley and Steve Orrell linked up for a fluent 100-run partnership before Wiley chipped a catch to mid-on for 60, having cracked nine fours and two sixes.
Orrell then completed his half century, consisting of seven fours and a six, which proved a landmark moment – his 50th fifty for the first team.
However, the teams left the field shortly afterwards due to rain and the extended lay-off meant the game had to be further reduced by 12 overs per side.
This meant Prestwich, from a very healthy position, were left with 5.3 overs to frantically boost their total, and the planned flurry of runs turned into an unplanned flurry of wickets. Orrell holed out for 52 and Hill bowler Saleem took 5 for 12 as Prestwich threw caution to the wind to breach the 150-run mark.
With another rain break forcing more mathematical recounting, the home side set about defending the new 121-run target and got off to the perfect start when Danny Jones trapped Ahmed l.b.w. with his first ball.
But then the visitors took full control, staging an 75-run stand at the required run rate, and looking hot favourites for victory.
But a slick piece of fielding from James Wharmby kick-started the whirlwind turnaround. His sliding stop and throw caused a mix-up between the Taufel and Raza, and Raza was left well ouf of his ground for 42.
Jones started to spin his magic in tandem with seamer Gibson, and the wickets began to tumble.
It ended when Wiley’s smart glovework stumped Saleem, off Gibson’s bowling, heralding a 27-run victory, the margin of which did not fully reflect how much they had been staring defeat in the face.
