FOLLOWING their double winning success in their final season in the Lancashire County League, Prestwich captain Andy Bradley has set his sights on repeating the feat in the Greater Manchester Cricket League next season.
The Heys Road outfit will play in the Premier Division of the new structure and Bradley, who was re-elected as skipper for the 2016 season, is looking forward to fixtures against local rivals Bury, Greenmount and Unsworth.
“We always hoped we would be in the top division so now that is confirmed we are excited for the future,” he said.
“We’ll be pretty much fielding the same side as this year, so we will be full of confidence.
“We will be competitive and aim to challenge for the title.”
Prestwich refused to let the weather dampen their spirits despite a washout in their final league game on Saturday.
The two points gained from the rained off fixture at runners-up Glossop ensured the 2015 championship and Walkden Cup winners are now in a league of their own.
A total of 104 points – 19 more than their nearest rivals – confirms Prestwich as the best team ever to have played in the Lancashire County League, and with a win rate of almost 85 per cent across all competitions, Bradley believes his record-breakers deserve credit for their remarkable season.
“It’s a fantastic achievement. I’m very proud,” he said. “It’s not been a fluke that we’ve won the double.
“The team has worked really hard. We’ve trained two nights a week, some players more.”
Bradley expressed his thanks to the club’s supporters and chairman Brian Lorenzini.
“Brian gave us the budget to get a first class pro in Marty last year and it’s been an unrivalled success,” he said.
“He’s the best professional we have ever had and we’ve re-signed him for next year.”
On the field, both Sam Holden and Walters passed 1,000 runs for the season, notching up 1,077 and 1,031 of their team’s 6,376 runs respectively.
Walters, who scored three centuries, also tops the chart for the highest score in a game with 133 and the best batting average of 56.68.
Ryan Stanbury, who will return for a third season next year, made 946 runs from 676 balls and also took the honours for the highest strike rate.
The South African all-rounder scored the most sixes (12) in a game. He also claimed the fastest century in Lancashire County League history with a 39-ball blitz against last year’s winners Denton SL in July, where Prestwich also hit their highest innings score of 431-6 at Sycamore Park.
Holden, the club’s best all-round player, nabbed the most half centuries (10) and the most fours for the season (21).
Wicketkeeper James Wharmby and Walters were the club’s top batting partnership with 216 runs, and Wharmby also took the most catches with 38.
Top wicket taker was Bradley with 79 – with an average of 12.97 – while the best figures with the ball in a single game went to Stanbury for his 6-25 against Thornham in May.
