Who needs The Hundred?
Roe Green v Prestwich. Both GMCL Premier Division title chasers. 50 overs each (or 300 balls if you’re already a convert). Traditional red ball, white clothing. No gimmicks.
Simply an overflow of dazzling, dramatic cricket, a showcase of exhilarating performances, a sheer run frenzy – which ended in a one wicket triumph for Roe Green with three balls left.
Prestwich were in the driving seat after rattling up a total of 318 for 5 – which left local observers scratching their heads to remember the last time a score above 300 had been notched on the Green turf.
Captain Marty Walters (pictured) struck a classy 114, including 17 fours, taking him past 700 runs for the season. Together with Danny Pawson who cracked 83 in 81 balls, they shared a second wicket stand of 184 runs.
There was no let up: Sam Holden hammered 48 in no time and Ryan Stanbury thumped 30.
The hosts made a solid reply but were soon behind the demanding run rate, kept in check by an admirable spell from Nathan Bailey whose 3-56 was even more impressive given an economy rate of 3.73 in the context of such a high-scoring game.
First Daniel Cooper began to turn the tide, but he was trapped l.b.w by Aaryaman Roy for 81, the first of his three wickets. Luke Williams then took centre stage, having earlier claimed 4 for 70 with the ball. He smashed a century and yet he was losing partners steadily at the other end. When Stanbury ran out Andy Hough with a direct hit off the second ball of the final over, two runs were still needed.
However, Williams struck two to deep mid-on, to finish unbeaten on 126 – an outstanding innings off a mere 78 balls.
Whoever lost was always going to feel gutted, and Prestwich were hugely disappointed.
But it was an enthralling game brimming with quality and talent, and the well-used word of one passionate onlooker seemed to sum it all up from a spectators’ perspective: “Marvellous”.
The 2nd XI faced top-of-the table Mottram 1sts and lost by 7 wickets. Lewis Jarvis was stranded on 49 not out as the 2nds were bowled out for 119. The visitors had few hiccups reaching the target, but the game marked the 2nd team league debut for 13-year-old Thomas Orrell who picked up one of the three wickets to fall.
On Sunday, Prestwich 3rds overhauled a target of 131 set by Bolton Derby & Deane 3rds to win by six wickets, Uwais Khaliq (5 for 18) and Sam Harding (3 for 20) did most of the damage. The reply was a real team effort, led by Dylan Kane (35 not out), George Neill-Platt (25 not out), Josh Ahern (25), Matthew Korab (20) and Khaliq (17).
The 4th team played in a well-contested friendly against Eagley CC, winning by 16 runs. Twelve-year-old Thomas Prescott struck a superb 74, with contributions from Matt Eaves (26), Pete Staley (19), Anis Khaliq (17) and Sam Staley (12). Eagley finished on 160 for 9, with skipper Pete Staley grabbing 4 for 20.
