Ryan Stanbury racked up the fastest-ever league century to blast Prestwich to a stunning victory over Denton West.
Nicknamed Rhino, the Prestwich opener was more like a bull in a china shop as he smashed the ball to all parts of Windsor Park and beyond.
The South African struck 136 not out from just 52 balls, taking 43 balls to reach his century – beating the previous record for the Lancashire County League by two balls.
Prestwich had set out to chase a rather tricky-looking target of 170, but with 11 sixes and 15 fours from the bat of Stanbury, the total was overtaken in just 16.1 overs.
Stanbury’s unprecedented assault on the West bowling saw him strike five sixes in one Scott Kirwin, taking him form 84 to 114 in successive balls, having earlier cracked 24 off a Steve Oddy over.
There was hardly a semblance of a chance, and one giant six – whilst not landing that far over the boundary – would not have been far off transgressing the flight path to Manchester Airport. The car park and the clubhouse also came under fire, but damage was limited, as the ball generally sailed over them.
Meanwhile, Stanbury’s partner James Wharmby was the calm amongst the storm, sensibly prodding and pushing his way to 19 not out.
The game had begun in far more sedate circumstances as tight opening spells from Tom Scott and Sam Holden kept the home side down to barely two runs an over.
Scott was rewarded with three wickets from an excellent 13-over spell, and Holden’s opening six-over salvo returned 1 for 13. But the tide changed when Nick Doyle came to the crease, and he played the most cultured innings of the day, with several exquisite off and straight drives.
With John Barnett, the score had been taken from 75 for 5 to 118 for 5, when skipper Andy Bradley’s introduction put a spoke in the West wheels. He bowled Barnett for 12 and then Doyle for an otherwise unblemished 56, and he then took another two quick wickets, finishing with 4 for 30.
But at 137 for 9, Liam Kilburn provided fireworks of his own. He lashed 39, including three sixes, and was the main instigator of a 33-run last wicket partnership with Oddy, although it was aided by some hiccups in the field, including five penalty runs for the ball striking a helmet on the ground.
Kilburn was left unbeaten on 39 as Holden took the last wicket, bringing him to a creditable 50 for the season.
But the praiseworthy performances of the first half of the game were then somewhat swamped by Stanbury’s explosive second half display.
It also marked the final game of long-serving umpire Rod Buckley, for whom a presentation was made by both sides before the game.
The first team’s spectacular victory elevated them to a fourth place finish in the Greene King Lancashire County League, and overall, it capped a fine season for the club at senior and junior levels.
Prestwich’s second team marked their title triumph with a three-wicket victory over Denton West and were presented with the league trophy on Saturday, finishing 12 points clear of second-placed Glossop.
Prestwich 3rd team completed their season on Sunday with a win over champions Rochdale to cement their runners-up spot in divison two of the North Manchester League, having won the Hodson Cup.
Also on Sunday, Prestwich under 17s, coached by Karl West, who had won the Lancashire County League south division without losing a game, were presented with their shield and medals. However, they failed to get the icing on the cake and were beaten by Glossop, winners of the north division, in the under-17 play-off final.
Success was also achieved by Prestwich under 15s, managed by Nick Carter, who won the cup last month, although the rain meant it had to be earned with a bowl-out.
