Reigning champions Prestwich relinquished their league championship – but only after a humdinger against their closest rivals Denton West.
The must-win match for the Heys side went down to the wire, but their opponents scraped home by two wickets to clinch the Lees Lancashire County League title.
Saturday’s crunch game at Windsor Park was a real thriller and witnessed a remarkable performance from Sam Holden with bat and ball, even though it was not enough to earn his side victory.
After blasting 37 in just 20 balls, he then took seven of West’s eight wickets to fall in a tremendous display of fast bowling.
Indeed, this firecracker of a match sparkled with action right from the opening over when West pro Steve Oddy grabbed the wicket of James Wharmby with his fifth delivery, caught by Andy O’Brien at first slip.
Prestwich pro Carl Hey was snapped up by Dave Morrell for 13, caught by Hamish Dunlop at point, with the score on 16.
Sam Holden then went on the offensive, hitting his first ball for four, stunning the home side with a series of extravagant strokeplay and powerful hitting, which included a six off Oddy over the clubhouse.
However, the fireworks ended when Holden played one attacking in shot too many, and skied to Dunlop at backward point, to give Oddy a second scalp, leaving Prestwich 57 for 3 with only 11 overs gone.
Steve Orrell had dug a trench at one end, but fell victim to the slow left arm of Hamish Dunlop for 11 to make it 75 for 4. That started a quick flow of wickets, save for a strikingly impressive innings from Tom Gibson, who held the rest of the innings together. Only some late resistance from Wilf Reeve (11) and skipper Andy Bradley, who hit a huge six in his 10 not out, pushed the score towards respectability. Gibson hit four boundaries and was last man to fall when he played onto his stumps for 41. Dunlop (4 for 40) and Oddy (4 for 59) were the main protagonists for West, and whilst a score of 135 was below par, it was certainly going to test the West mettle on a wicket which had some help for the bowlers.
And so it was the turn of Holden to put the opposing batsmen on the rack as he took the first four wickets with just 32 on the board. Not only did rattle back Andy O ‘Brien’s leg stick, he floored the batsman in his attempt to dig out the perfect yorker. Just two balls later, captain Mike Berry fell to Holden when he mistimed a pull shot and Oliver Holt took a simple catch.
Mike Schofield nicked to wicketkeeper Wharmby and John McAllister’s middle stump was clipped as Holden struck again. But a stand of 62 between John Barnett and Dunlop proved decisive, and it was not until Holden was re-introduced into the attack, after a short breather, that Prestwich gained another success, Barnett l.b.w. for 37. Dunlop was then run out for 25 thanks to good work from Tousuf Miran and the game – at 110 for 6 – was back in the balance. Holden struck twice more: Morrell for 16 and John Foreman for 6, but West edged nearer the required target and Oddy struck the winning runs to his side’s relief and celebration.
Prestwich’s final home game of the season proved somewhat ironic as they were denied the chance of victory by bad light and rain, losing the game to Dukinfield on run rate. It was not the first time this year that they can claim harsh deal from the weather.
Dukinfield had amassed a challenging target of 223 all out, with three wickets each for Miran, Holden and Hey. Top score for the visitors was Rashid with 67.
Prestwich made healthy progress in the face of Dukinfield’s pace attack despite losing Wharmby for 15 with the score on 43 and Orrell for a solid 31, to make it 84 for 2. Gibson made 15 before being bowled by pro Wade Lezar as darkness suddenly shrouded the ground.
It was not long before the umpires rightly decided to take the players off the field for bad light. Rain then ensued, causing the game to be abandoned.
It left Prestwich 25 runs adrift of the required run rate, despite being well poised at 124 for 3 with 22 overs left, and Hey unbeaten on 44. A good finish was certainly on the cards.
The Heys side will be determined to finish a hectic season on a high when they travel to Flowery Field on Saturday, having slipped to third place.
