A hard-fought league victory against Cheetham Hill and a Lancashire Cup triumph over Settle was music to the ears of Prestwich.
With the sounds of the Parklife festival at Heaton Park booming out, it proved of little distraction to the Heys side.
Their short trip to neighbouring Cheetham Hill is always a tough assignment, and yet after 20 overs of this match, it seemed anything but, as the home side plunged to 59 for 6.
The chief destroyer was Sam Holden who bowled a quick, aggressive opening spell to claim five of these wickets, prompting thoughts he might have had a ticket for the nearby concert.
But the Hill duo of Raza and Mirza turned their innings around with a fluent partnership of 115, taking the score to 174 before Holden, brought back into the attack, claimed Raza for 60, after his the intended reverse flick backfired and he was well caught by wicketkeeper James Wharmby.
The same combination brought Mirza’s fine knock to an end for 81, giving Wharmby his fourth catch of the game. Hill finished on 209 from their allotted 50 overs, with Holden’s standout figures reading 8 for 69 from 17 overs.
The Prestwich reply was dominated by another classy century from Danny Jones, his second ton of the season. He hit 17 boundaries to form the cornerstone of his side’s victory.
However, Hill will be kicking themselves that they missed a few chances, and the game was in the balance at 71 for 3 when Tom Gibson joined Jones at the wicket.
Gibson batted with maturity beyond his years as he played the ideal support role to Jones, and finished unbeaten on 43 while Jones’s stay was ended by Yazdani, who took all four wickets to fall, for 103. Oliver Holt cracked three boundaries in his 14 not out, and the visitors passed the target with more than seven overs to spare.
On Sunday, Prestwich progressed to the next round of the Lancashire Cup to set up a tie with Bury after beating Ribblesdale League opponents Settle by 29 runs.
Racking up a total of 253 all out, Holt was the main man at the crease for Prestwich, cracking 59 in a highly entertaining 45 balls, while Carl Hey (39), Jones (39) and Holden (35) all made useful contributions.
With usual captain Andy Bradley injured, Prestwich were further hampered when Hey had to leave the field with a damaged hand at the end of his second over. Skipper for the day Gibson had to juggle his bowlers around, and yet it was he himself who ended up starring with the ball, taking 5 for 55, and completing an excellent all-round weekend.
Jones, Holden and Hey all grabbed a wicket, while Jones just couldn’t be kept out of the action with a superb pick-up and throw to run out Davidson with only one stump to aim at. Holden also vied for the fielding limelight with four outfield catches.
Strickland top scored for the visitors with 53, but despite their valiant effort, fell short on 224 all out, having always been behind the required run rate.
Prestwich face two home games this weekend, hosting Denton in the league on Saturday and welcoming Woodhouses for the quarter final of the Walkden Cup on Sunday.