Pete’s flower power

Today, our first XI were scheduled to host Woodbank in the Premier Division.

Last year’s corresponding fixture saw the visitors win by four wickets, despite an innings of 77 from Sam Holden.

Best home batting and bowling performances against Woodbank are recorded as Craig Duxbury’s 120 in 2003 and Danny Jones’ 7-38 return in 2010.

Our 2nd XI would have been blazing another new trail today – with their first trip to Austerlands to face their first team.

And we have foraged back 16 years to unearth a report of a 2nd XI game when the team met another ex-Saddleworth League side for the first time.

It was the opening day of the 2004 season and Lancashire County League newbies Flowery Field were the opponents.

The report reads as follows:

“A back-to-the-wall rearguard by tailenders Pete Lorenzini and Colin Higginson brought Prestwich 2nds a tense two-wicket victory over newcomers Flowery Field in their opening league clash at The Heys.

Coming together at 142-8 and facing an uphill struggle to bring home the points, the pair stayed strong in the face of all the Hyde-based men could throw at them and claimed the spoils with two overs to spare – Lorenzini smashing the winning runs with a six.

The game looked more than up at 118 for 6 and 123-7 chasing Flowery’s decent 179 all out.

AJ Taylor and a limping Matt Walsh both hit imposing mid-40s before both fell on their swords that had brought them their runs – the former crashing four sixes in his 44.

Dave Sandiford had earlier checked the Flowery innings with a typical return on the sluggish April Prestwich wicket, turning in 6-49 in 18.3 impeccable overs, and he was well supported by Walsh (0-34 in 13) and Higginson (1-34 in 9).

Prestwich picked up the full five points – the perfect start to the season.”

The photograph above shows Pete bowling in a match during the 2004 season – pictures of him batting are much harder to find!