Prestwich were left in a hot sweat to maintain their unbeaten league run after a dramatic last ball thriller against Glossop – which saw the scores finish level.
Needing three runs to win from the final delivery, Tousif Miran’s lofted drive was dropped, allowing two runs to be scampered to leave the totals identical on 223.
It meant Prestwich gained three points from their share of the spoils to keep them on the coat tails of trailblazing leaders Denton West.
Played in sweltering heat, Prestwich nearly got their fingers burned as the game took a number of thrilling twists and turns to mesmerise even the most neutral observer.
Glossop started off like greyhounds out of the traps as Lee Dale and Dale Pennington rattled up a rapidfire 91 in just 13 overs – but thankfully from the Prestwich point of view, they were then both back in the pavilion. Wilf Reeve knocked back Pennington’s leg stump for 33 and then Reeve struck again to dismiss pro Dale for 43, caught by Tom Scott on the deep cover boundary.
That took the steam out the visitors’ onslaught although Joe Moss executed a fine innings of 43. Wickets began to fall steadily, and included that of Moss, caught by Carl Hey from the bowling of Danny Jones. From 165 for 6, John Stopford made a useful 29 and Oliver Kenyon 27 not out, but the last four wickets fell for just five runs as Reeve was brought back into the attack. He grabbed another two wickets to finish with 4 for 54 while Jones returned figures of 3 for 64 from an exhausting 17 overs.
In reply, Prestwich made a steady start, but had lost both openers – Jones for 22 and James Wharmby for 11 – with 41 on the board. Carl Hey and Sam Holden kept the run rate ticking over, until Holden’s lofted off drive was well held by Pennington at mid-off for 49, and another crucial blow was to follow as Hey was brilliantly caught by Alex Coates for 37.
Oliver Holt then played another belligerent innings to keep his side in the hunt, hitting 48 from 42 balls. But when he was dismissed on 200 and Steve Orrell fell one ball later for 9, 24 runs were required from four overs, with just two wickets remaining.
Reeve holed out at deep mid-on for 9 to make it 214 for 9, whereupon skipper Andy Bradley joined Miran at the crease.
Eight runs were needed from the final over bowled by Tim Rogers, but with some good running, it all came down to the very last ball of another gripping game played out at The Heys this season.
Rogers was the star player for Glossop, returning bowling figures of 5 for 58 on top of a knock of 30 earlier in the day, in a game where strangely no batsman made 50.
Prestwich are in action at The Heys again on Saturday when they host Woodhouses.
