It was a “terrific” Bank Holiday weekend for Prestwich’s senior teams as the 1sts, 2nds, 3rds, and 4ths all won their league games, and was capped off on Monday with the 3rd team lifting the GMCL Premier Sunday Cup trophy, defeating Monton 3rds by 108 runs. (See below).
The 1sts maintained their 9-point gap over Denton St Lawrence at the top of the GMCL Premier Division on Saturday after their trip to Greenfield.
Sam Holden continued his rich vein of form, smashing 96, including 7 fours and 9 sixes, after the side had been pegged back to 30 for 3. He had scored 94 in the home fixture earlier this season, and the knock took him past 900 runs for the season, and up to 5th in the 1st team batting records, totalling 8001 runs, and going above Mark Whelan.
Holden and pro Sachithra Serasinghe put on a vital 111-run stand, to repair the early damage and allowed Prestwich to reach a total of 231 for 9.
Some tight opening bowling by Ryan Stanbury (2-29) and Nathan Bailey (1-27) put the shackles on the Greenfield reply. Nathan is pictured, by Leo Michaelovitz, demonstrating his squatting technique with an appeal for l.b.w. during his spell.
Then Serasinghe (2-35) and Andy Bradley (3 for 27) kept up the stranglehold, and Greenfield were bowled out for 123. Fittingly, it was Holden who took the last wicket with only his fourth ball.
This weekend will be pivotal in the race for the Premier division title. The 1sts are at home to Egerton, whilst nearest challengers Denton St Lawrence have a double weekend to catch up on their game in hand, and could narrow the gap. Clifton are 3rd, 10 points behind.
The 2nd team chalked up a superb win against Hadfield St Andrews 1st XI, avenging a drubbing earlier on in the season.
The side amassed 231 for 9, with Lewis Smith top scoring on 61, given excellent support from Lewis Jarvis (43) and Haris Aziz (31). The visitors were then bundled out for 87 as Tom Scott ripped through the middle order, taking 5 for 10 after Jarvis’s opening blast removed 3 of the top order, returning figures of 3 for 15.
The 3rd team beat Bury 3rds on Sunday by 6 wickets, after the hosts were dismissed for 98. Wickets were shared, with Muhammad Arif taking 3 for 24.
It was not all smooth running in reply, as Prestwich lost 4 wickets with just 36 on the board, but an unbeaten 50 from Tom Ward, supported by Adam Taylor (14 not out) ensured no more hiccups.
The 4th team gained an excellent win over Brooksbottom 3rds by 39 runs after knocking up 188 for 6 from 40 overs. The foundation was an opening stand of 94 from father and son Gary and Thomas Prescott. Thomas struck a fine 43 and a 55-run partnership followed between Gary, who made 78 – his highest league score of the season – and Finlay Lester (16).
All the bowlers got in on the act in the second half, as Sam Staley claimed 2 victims, and there was a wicket each for Khalid Noori, Liam Potts, Daisy Hunt, Thomas Prescott and Thomas Hatchett.
The 5th team made the trip to Alvanley CC in Cheshire and totalled 130 for 9 from 35 overs, where Anis Khaliq top scored on 34.
The home side passed the total with 6 wickets to spare, despite skipper Dave Eckersley taking 2 for 15.
GREENFIELD v PRESTWICH 1XI GALLERY
By Leo Michaelovitz
