Unbeaten league leaders Woodbank were toppled by a determined Prestwich display. They ran out 58-run winners in a keenly contested game in front of a decent crowd at The Heys last Saturday.
Prestwich professional Danny Jones scored an excellent 75 in his side’s par total of 198, before spinner Andy Bradley struck with a seven-timer to help dismiss the visitors for 140.
Simon Read was the standout performer for Woodbank, taking 6 for 60 in an unbroken 23-over spell.
Prestwich made an fine start with Jones and James Wharmby staging an 82-run opening partnership at a healthy scoring rate.
Wharmby made a solid 31, cracking six fours, before he was the first of Read’s six victims.
The previous week’s record runmaker Matt Wiley made just 10, getting a bottom edge on an attempted pull shot from Read, onto his stumps.
A total beyond 200 looked achievable with Jones and Sam Holden at the wicket, and the score showing 139 for 2.
Woodbank had also lost the services of experienced veteran Mark Stringer, who dislocated a shoulder as he dived to stop a sinlge off his own bowling.
But a risky two by Jones saw him run out by a direct throw from Nawaz, ending an innings containing nine boundaries and one six.
Holden was l.b.w. for 28 shortly afterwards, and Prestwich lost wickets at regular intervals as they strived to maintain the strike-rate, but only Chris Thomas (14) made it into double figures.
Bradley struck twice to dismiss Steve Dearden, and son Harry, with 43 on the board, but not for the first time, a run out proved the Achilles heel for an in-form batsman.
Opener Brett Collins had made a blustery 32 when he attempted a second run to the arm of Chris Thomas on the deep extra cover boundary, and failed to make his ground.
With Nick Haynes and Kennedy taking the score to 90 for 3, the game was well in the balance, but after a switch of bowling ends, Kennedy then unluckily saw the ball cannon of his bat onto his stumps from Jones for 10.
Bradley, now at the tennis court end, sent down three aces to dismiss Read for 2, Hamnett for 12 and Haynes for 22 as the hosts gained the upper hand. He finished with 7 for 56.
A typical flurry from Woodbank skipper John Chapman (16 not out) was not enough to avert defeat, as Woodbank ended on nine wickets down, with Stringer unable to bat through injury.
The result saw Denton St Lawrence leapfrog to the head of the Lees Lancashire County League table, to whom Prestwich pay a visit on Saturday.
Prestwich are also in Walkden Cup action on Sunday, with a first round home tie against Thornham.
* Prestwich suffered a first-round Lancashire Cup knockout on Sunday with a seven-wicket defeat by Northern League side Netherfield. Prestwich’s 201 total, with Wharmby making a half century, proved insufficient as the visitors comfortably overhauled the target for the loss of three wickets.
* Prestwich 2nd XI turned in a miserable showing at Woodbank, losing by 71 runs.
