Danny Pawson’s seven wicket haul was the springboard to victory for the first team against visitors Astley & Tyldesley on Saturday.
Having been in outstanding form with the bat in last year’s curtailed season, this time it was with the ball in his hand that he turned on the style, taking 7 for 47, while sub pro Daryn Smit took 3 for 27 to dismiss A&T for 125.
Another solid opening partnership between James Wharmby and Marty Walters reached 72 before Wharmby was bowled by James Cutt for 31, prompting a mini-collapse. When Walters was dismissed for the second successive week just shy of his half century – this time on the agonising score of 49, the total read 91-4. But Ryan Stanbury extinguished any glimmer of hope for A&T, making 27, and Prestwich met their target with five wickets to spare.
This leaves the 1st XI at the top of the GMCL Premier league after two games on 11 points, alongside three other teams who have had identical unbeaten starts.
Stretford 1st XI racked up 234 all out against Prestwich 2nds, mainly thanks to an unbeaten 125 from Harry Whitehead. Alex Taylor took 4 for 47, and Uwais Khaliq 2 for 27 off 9 overs, bowling tight in the circumstances, and Steve Ritchie grabbed two wickets.
A stand of 69 for the first wicket between Cameron Mapstone (26) and Haris Aziz (19) looked promising, but only Alex Taylor (23) and Adam Cheshire (22) made double figures thereafter, and the run chase fizzled away to 148 all out.
On Sunday, the 3rd XI heralded their first league victory of the season with a solid batting display in pursuit of 173 for 9 set by Bolton Deane & Derby. Sam Harding (3-17), Karl West (3-47) and Muhammad Arif (2-34) doing the damage.
Matt Korab’s unbeaten 57 then led the way, well supported by 47 from Luke Prescott, 31 from skipper Pete Lorenzini, and 17 from George Neill-Platt. They overhauled the target with six wickets to spare, and with 12-year-old debutant Thomas Prescott at the crease, having notched a boundary in his 5 not out.
Beaten but unbowed! That was the outcome of an excellent first outing by the 4th team at Farnworth Social Circle
Undaunted by the host club’s stiff total of 257-4 from 40 overs, Prestwich 4ths made a valiant reply, finishing on 188 for 8. An excellent opening partnership of 69 between Gary Prescott who struck 41 and 14-year-old Sam Regan, who also made 41, was later followed by a quickfire 48 from 13-year-old debutant Thomas Orrell, who hit 11 fours. Anees Arif hit 17 and Mike Orrell notched up 19 – as well as a broken bat – to cap a very promising display under captain Pete Staley.
