Prestwich proved just dynamite to send Woodhouses toppling out of the Walkden Cup by dismissing them for just 44.
The Heys side then knocked off the required runs in less than eight overs on Sunday, to set up a crunch semi-final tie at home to Woodbank.
Woodhouses, who lie third in the Lees Lancashire County League, just one place behind Prestwich, made slow but steady progress to 13 before paceman Danny Jones got a delivery to lift and opener Mike Cassidy gloved the ball to wicketkeeper James Wharmby for 5.
Even when Sam Holden had Aussie Simon Cormie caught behind for 0, there was no real sign of the dramatic collapse to come. But Carl Hey’s introduction into the attack sparked a remarkable spell of bowling. Woodhouses capitulated from 21 for 2 to 26 for 9 as Hey took four wickets for just four runs, while skipper Andy Bradley joined in the destruction, taking three wickets, and conceding just two runs.
The last wicket partnership of 18 between Chris Megram and Ashley Prescott was comfortably the highest, pushing the total to 44 before Holden grabbed his second wicket, that of Prescott who found the hands of Hey at extra cover for 6.
No-nonsense Jones cracked 12 off the first over, ending up unbeaten on 36, and Wharmby 11 not out, as Prestwich recorded a remarkable 10-wicket win.
The day before, Prestwich’s championship credentials were tested to the full when Denton belied their position at the foot of the league table to give the Heys team a scare.
Andy Ruddy was the man who put the frighteners on with an amazing innings of 113 not out, struck from 81 balls, and including 11 fours, and eight sixes. He led his side to a total of 219 for 9 from their allotted 50 overs.
Such a total had earlier seemed unlikely as, despite missing three frontline bowlers, Prestwich had whittled Denton down to 89 for 6, with just over 20 overs left.
Tom Scott had made a great start when he opened the bowling and grabbed a caught and bowled to dismiss Karl Taylor off his first delivery. Jones bowled another classy and exhaustive spell, being rewarded with 5 for 76 from 25 overs, with Tom Gibson’s superb diving slip catch the pick of his dismissals.
But Ruddy took advantage of some slipshod fielding and went from 50 to 100 in just 22 balls, with some powerful hitting to all parts of the ground. With last man Andrew Neill giving good support on 7 not out, Denton secured an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 49, leaving Prestwich to rue their failure to take the final wicket which would have earned them an extra point.
Wharmby was bowled for 1 with the score on 25, but Jones and Hey set the foundations of a Prestwich victory as they took the score to 110 without further mishap. Jones crashed a typically aggressive 68, off 64 balls, with five sixes and four fours. But when he mistimed a pull to Martin Leech at mid-on, there was still a lot of work to be done.
But with Hey showing impeccable form and Gibson in a rich vein, they were unbudged to chalk off the remaining runs with more than four overs to spare.
Gibson’s unbeaten knock of 54 was his maiden half century for the first team, accrued from 78 balls, and consisting of nine boundaries, a textbook straight drive being the best.
Hey struck 13 boundaries to finish unbeaten on 81 at the end of his two-hour stay at the crease.
Prestwich face two tough league games this weekend, with a trip to Denton St Lawrence on Saturday before hosting leaders Denton West at The Heys on Sunday.