Prestwich pace ace Danny Jones grabbed the lion’s share of the wickets as Flowery Field were cut down at The Heys.
He spearheaded a comfortable victory on Saturday with a six-wicket haul to trigger the dismissal of the visitors for 82, which was overtaken with just the loss of a solitary wicket.
The triumph signified the halfway mark in the season and Prestwich lie two points behind Denton West in the Lees Lancashire County League.
The Saturday encounter was followed by a captivating game against Bury 24 hours later in the Lancashire Cup, which saw the Heys side win with four balls to spare.
The glorious weather was matched by the entertainment on the field and was lapped up by a big crowd, as Bury racked up an imposing target of 256 for 6.
A spectacular first-wicket stand of 159 between skipper Simon Belston and Amar Baig laid the foundations for the Bolton Association side, but it was the introduction of Tousif Miran which halted their fluent progress.
In his second over, he bowled Belston three short of what would have been a deserved century and then had pro Kobus Scholtz caught by wicketkeeper James Wharmby for 2. Amar Baig’s innings of 88 was ended by Jones but 51 from 48 balls from Alex Breckin ensured the total topped the 250-mark. Miran finished with 2 for 40 from eight overs, while Jones and Sam Holden also claimed a brace.
A stand of 86 set Prestwich’s reply off on a good footing before Wharmby was caught and bowled by Belston for 36.
Jones continued his fine thread of form with a run-a-ball 79 and, in tandem with Carl Hey, the score ticked over to 152 before being claimed by Nasir, the first of his four wickets.
Hey, not for the first time this season, found a worthy partner in Tom Gibson, and the pair made stealthy progress, with Hey making 78 at a similar run-a-ball rate to Jones. Despite the loss of Hey with just five overs to go, and 27 runs still needed, Gibson (26 not out) was joined by Miran (9 not out) to knock off the remaining runs in thrilling fashion at the end of a game played in excellent spirit. A home quarter-final tie with Bamford Fieldhouse, from the Saddleworth League, awaits Prestwich.
Miran was never far from the action over the two days, as he had been given the chance to get some time at the crease in his side’s reply to Flowery Field’s total 24 hours earlier, opening the batting with Wharmby. He made a competent 26 before being the only Prestwich wicket to fall, while Wharmby was undefeated on 36.
Top score for Flowery Field was Lee Milner with 23, and in addition to Jones’s 6-25 return, Holden took 2 for 11 from seven overs, and skipper Andy Bradley 2 for 42.
Prestwich face a home clash with fourth-placed Glossop on Saturday in their only game of the weekend.
