It was a crucial weekend for the title hopes of Prestwich with games against top four sides Glossop and the reigning champions Denton West but the Heys men made short work of both thanks to a magnificent fifteen wicket haul for Prestwich’s man of the moment Andy Bradley.
Prestwich batted first at Glossop on Saturday after skipper Steve Lorenzini had won the toss on what looked like an absolute belter at North Road. However appearances proved to be deceptive and fluent runs were hard to come by.
The new opening pair of Chris Thomas and Tom Gibson battled through 24 painstaking overs to add 72 for the first wicket before Thomas was caught and bowled by Hargreaves for a gutsy 38, Gibson followed soon afterwards for 34 but the pair had set up the platform for Matthew Wiley (38) and a late flurry from James Wharmby and Dave Taylor saw the visitors reach 160 for 8 from their allotted 50 overs.
The Glossop innings got off to the worst possible start when Bradley removed Wilde caught and bowled with the score on 1.
This brought Sri Lankan international Bathiya Perera to the crease. Perera who has scored over 1400 hundred runs this season is always pivotal to Glossop’s hopes, but Bradley removed him LBW with his very next delivery handing Prestwich a massive boost.
When the dangerous Pennington departed caught by Thomas in the deep Glossop’s hopes were dashed, and although there was spirited defiance down the order, wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, with Holden superbly running out Stopford without facing a ball and Gibson collecting 4 catches.
The home side were eventually dismissed for 124 and Bradley’s haul of 7 for 54 made him only the second player to reach 800 1XI wickets for Prestwich after current scorer Bob Hinchliffe.
Reigning champions Denton West were the visitors to The Heys on Sunday and they decided to bat first having won the toss. This decision didn’t work out too well as Andy Bradley again ripped through the opposition line up, the tall off spinner extracting sharp turn and bounce from the Prestwich wicket.
West professional Lee Dale was the first to succumb, caught by Nick Carter and when Berry and Melling had been removed, all caught close in on the leg side, the visitors were in all sorts of trouble at 28 for 4.
With Danny Jones proving almost unplayable at the other end only some dogged defence from O’Brien and Garde prevented total humiliation, but once they also departed Bradley made short work of the rest as the Tameside team were bundled out for just 96.
Andy Bradley’s return of 8 for 50 saw his wickets tally for the season extend to 90, including 8 five wicket hauls.
In reply Prestwich made short work of chasing down the measly total, Tom Gibson remaining unbeaten on 20 offering valuable support as the prolific Sam Holden and Matt Wiley despatched the ball to all parts of the Heys Road ground, and beyond.
Holden smashed 23 from 19 balls and Wiley hammered 32 from just 18 balls, taking him past the 900 run mark for the season.
Prestwich now find themselves 11 points clear at the top of the table with 4 games to play, and travel to Irlam this Saturday knowing that 2 more victories will see them clinch the title.
• On Bank Holiday Monday, Prestwich CC are hosting a T20 tournament sponsored by Mercedes Whitefield. There will be three games throughout the day starting with Prestwich v Unsworth at 10.30am. There will be a barbecue, full bar service etc and all are welcome. Admission £2 adults, children £FOC.
