A magical unbeaten ton by stand-in professional Andries Gous gave Prestwich a six-wicket triumph on Saturday with 15 overs to spare.
In pursuit of Glossop’s total of 184, you could have thought it was some kind of wild Gous chase as Prestwich galloped to 93 for 2 in less than 13 overs.
Yet the innings of deputy pro Gous (pictured), signed up to play following delays to the arrival of new professional Gihahn Cloete, simply oozed class and calmness. No over-extravagant, showboating T20 shots here, just a glorious mix of panache and textbook strokes, but with their own brand of power and timing.
Drop it short, or pitch it too full, the ball was despatched to all parts of the North Road venue – which must be said was yet again looking in superb condition. Even the good balls were worked away for runs.
The seventh over was eventful to say the least. Gous pulled the first delivery from Mark Usher onto the pavilion steps, an admirable strike in distance, and inclusive of five wides, 21 runs came off the first five balls. But Gous’s firm backward punch off the sixth delivery straight back down the wicket flicked the fingers of Usher onto the stumps and ran out the luckless Ryan Stanbury.
Stanbury, too, had looked in very good nick, as he had already raced to 23 off 14 balls, with four boundaries and a six, despite the loss of his opening partner James Wharmby for just two.
Glossop rang the bowling changes and sniffed a chink of light when Sam Holden holed out at long-off for 11 with the score on 93, but Mike Hudson struck a competent 20, including a big six over the boundary wall, and Tom Gibson, a racey 19 not out.
Earlier in the day, the familiar foes of Lee Dale and Dale Pennington were the backbone of the home side’s innings. A fine outstretched catch by Nathan Bailey at backward point was required to trigger the dismissal of Pennington for 41.
Dale struck 83, and fell to a catch on the long-on boundary by skipper Andy Bradley, which was a fair effort considering he didn’t pick it up till it was on a downward spiral. The visitors would have pleased with their overall bowling performance, with two wickets apiece for Stanbury and Bailey, and Holden, Bradley and Reeve each grabbing a wicket.
But Gous was simply too hot to handle on the day and fittingly the game ended as he notched up an unblemished century with a six over mid-wicket, made from only 85 balls.
Prestwich 1st XI made it a winning double on the opening weekend with a comfortable victory over Tonge in the first round of the National Knockout competition.
Tonge were dismissed for 103 in the 31st over, with Ahmed top scoring on 34. Spin duo Bailey (4 for 39) and Bradley (3 for 13) took the majority of the wickets, with Holden chipping in with 2 for 15.
In reply, Daniel Ahern and Bailey went cheaply but Wharmby struck a confidence-boosting 53 not out and Steven Ritchie an unbeaten 35 to register an eight-wicket win, and earn a tie away at Heywood in the next round.
Ritchie, perhaps more renowned for his exploits with the ball, had an excellent start to the season with the bat.
For 24 hours earlier, he smashed 62 in 41 balls, although it wasn’t enough to give the 2nd XI victory over Elton 1st XI.
Elton racked up a total of 201, but smarter fielding could have seen them chasing a smaller total. Opener Sean Haslam cracked 56, and whilst Ritchie’s late order biffing was not enough, it was a creditable inaugural performance from the team in their first outing in GMCL division two, where all the teams bar Glossop, will be club first teams.
Prestwich face fellow first-day victors Flixton at The Heys on Saturday, while the 2nd team travel to Astley & Tyldesley.
On Sunday, Prestwich 3rd XI get their season under way at home to Droylsden in the GMCL Cup.
Pic: Lancashire Telegraph
