Egerton became the first premier division champions of the GMCL after a game of high drama, worthy of its billing as a championship decider.
Prestwich failed to overhaul a winner-takes-all target of 175, falling 35 runs short, but there were many twists and turns on the way.
Not for the first time this season, the day began with a mopping-up operation by players, club officials and volunteers to clear away the overnight rain and ensure The Heys ground was in a playable condition.
Bowling first, Prestwich took an immediate stranglehold on the game, removing Egerton’s top three with just 18 on the board, and 14 overs consumed. The opening spells of Ryan Stanbury, who made the breakthrough, and Sam Holden, who struck twice in one over, were exemplary, and the visitors had to dig deep to mould a recovery.
Deputising professional Chesney Hughes at times looked uncomfortable, particularly against Mike Finan, but still posed a big threat until he was dismissed for 35, caught by wicketkeeper James Wharmby off Andy Bradley. When Marcus Pratt was l.b.w. to Finan, Prestwich had wrestled back the initiative at 70 for 5.
The ensuing partnership between Anthony Clegg (30) and Daniel Partington (42) proved one of the key points in the game as they took the score to 154 before their resistance was broken.
Holden finished with 4 for 45 and Finan 3 for 38 as the visitors totalled 175 all out, a figure they would have pleased with after their stumbling start, to leave the game finely balanced.
Prestwich’s innings had everything – determined and skilful batting, accurate bowling, top-class fielding, and controversial decisions, with three l.b.w. victims indicating there was bat on ball.
The home side got off to a solid start as Wharmby (8) and Stanbury (22) took the score to 30 and looked to have becalmed the quick-slow opening combination of Adam Street and Amal Dalugoda. But three wickets tumbled for just one run, amongst which Holden was an l.b.w. casualty.
Prestwich pro Marty Walters was starting to build up a fruitful stand with Ali Raza when he fell to a superb catch from Dalugoda at mid-wicket for 11. The unwell Tom Gibson fell quickly afterwards, but from 56 for 5, Raza and Tom Scott staged a 40-run rally which threatened to swing the pendulum back in Prestwich’s favour.
Raza had made a controlled 36 before he frustratedly became the second l.b.w. victim, and Scott followed for 13 without an additional run to the total, the victim of a supreme catch by Hughes at slip.
With their backs to the wall again at 96 for 7, the flame of victory was kept alive as skipper Bradley (25) crashed two sixes and Nathan Bailey (16) cracked two fours. But the guile of Dalugoda, who picked up four wickets, combined with Pratt (3 for 21) and Halton (2 for 33), proved insurmountable for Prestwich, who fell for 140.
Mixed emotions today. 1sts beaten to Premier League title by @EGERTON_CC whilst the 2nds win to take them one step closer to Div 3 title.
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) September 10, 2016
The first team can hold their heads up high to have finished runners-up in the new league which has posed many new challenges, and that’s not even accounting for the weather headaches.
Let them spray: Congratulations @Egerton_CC winners @gmclpremier inaugral cricket season 2016. ??? pic.twitter.com/9CQswVcJU0
— iScoop (@iScoop_Photos) September 10, 2016
The focus of attention now switches to Prestwich 2nd team who travel to Heywood on Saturday knowing that a six-point victory will earn them the division three title outright.
Half centuries from Lewis Smith and Olly Holt, and a seven-wicket haul from Nick Carter, helped the 2nds to victory at Swinton Moorside last Saturday, although the added bonus point was gained in dramatic fashion thanks to the newly-heralded throwing arm of Adam Taylor, running out Swinton’s last man as he was about to deny Prestwich of the coveted extra point.
Pic: @EGERTON_CC Twitter
