What a weekend!
The 1sts consolidated their position at the top of the GMCL Premier Division and then all 4 teams won their cup games on Sunday – with a victory for the 5th team thrown in as well.
High-flying Edgworth were the visitors to The Heys on Saturday and were bowled out for 195. Andy Bradley was in fine form, taking 5 for 53, while Ryan Maddock grabbed 3 for 42. The total was passed for the loss of two wickets as Sam Holden (72 not out) and Danny Pawson (63 not out) engaged in an unbroken stand of 106, after opener Lewis Smith had made 36. Pawson’s innings saw him reach 3,000 runs for the club.
The following day, old rivals Glossop were the visitors in the Derek Kay Cup quarter final and they posted a challenging total of 237 for 6. Former Prestwich player Lee Dale hit an unbeaten 94 with Bradley the most economical bowler, taking 2 for 25 off his allocated 9 overs.
Pawson struck 64 (taking him to 750 runs in all competitions this year) and James Wharmby 61 but from 182-3, there was a mini-slump to 201-7 until Maddock (26 not out) exhibited some fine strokeplay to get the team over the line.
The 2nd team were away at Glossop 2nds in the 2nd XI Cup and emerged with an eight-wicket win, They dismissed Glossop for 177 (Uwais Khaliq 5-40, Jack O’Brien 3-20) before Haris Aziz (94) and Lewis Smith (70) put on a 135-run partnership for the first wicket which paved the path for victory. The 2nds fell 25 runs short the day before in their league encounter at Daisy Hill 1sts. Khaliq again grabbed a five wicket return (5 for 52) with two wickets each for Wilf Reeve and Adam Cheshire. Despite an unbeaten 45 from skipper Steven Lorenzini, the target proved out of reach.
Tom Ward cracked a superb 98 not out in the 3rd team cup victory over Springhead 3rds. Umar Arif (42) and Thomas Orrell (33) also made good contributions to the total of 250-9. Umar Arif capped a fine all-round performance, taking 4 for 39 whilst Chris Nuttall returned excellent figures of 4 for 15 as the home side were bowled out for 116.
A century for Anees Arif was at the heart of the 4th team score of 253 for 6 in their cup clash with Woodbank 3rds. He made 106 off 82 balls, while Matthew Eaves scored his first senior half century, making exactly 50 not out, including 6 fours and a six.
In reply, Woodbank were dismissed for 65, as Arif took 2 for 19 and Simon Jackson 3 for 13, but the star bowling performance was from teenager Anis Khaliq, who after two unsuccessful overs at the start, then took 5 wickets for 26.
The 5th team travelled to Mottram 3rds and were chasing a total of 159 for 7 (Jamal Oryakhall 3-23). An innings of 49 from opener Richard Hatchett and 50 from Oryakhall saw the run pursuit get off to a good start and Gary Hershcovitch (30 not out) and Dave Eckersley {21 not out} finished off the job for victory by 6 wickets.
Prestwich Patriots found Heaton Bulls 2 in rampaging form in their T20 game last Friday as the Patriots posted 109 for 6 (Aziz 38, Matthew Cuthbert 30 not out), but it was overhauled comfortably with only one wicket to fall.
PRESTWICH v EDGWORTH GALLERY
PRESTWICH v GLOSSOP GALLERY
