The first team lost out in a top-of-the-table clash with a finishing twist that no-one could have foreseen.
Prestwich had grafted to a total of 155 all out with Sam Holden hitting 41 and Tom Gibson 36.
The Bury hosts, for whom Hayden Goulstone made 61, looked in total command at 154 for 5 – needing 2 runs for victory – when Nathan Bailey (pictured) snatched 3 wickets and Aaryaman Roy grabbed another, resulting in 4 wickets falling in the space of 1 run.
The last pair were at the wicket with the scores level on 155 before Matt Wilkes hit the winning boundary.
Both teams now stand level on 40 points at the head of the GMCL Premier Division.
Bailey’s 4 for 31 took him to 250 wickets for the club – and he also has accrued more than 50 wickets in all competitions this season.
And if you needed any further proof that cricket is a game that never ceases to amaze, you only have to look at the nail-biting victories of the 2nd and 3rd teams in their low-scoring thrillers last weekend.
The 2nds dismissed Radcliffe 1st XI for 115 with Wilf Reeve taking 5 for 35, Charlie Jackson 2 for 9, and Nick Carter 2 for 24.
From 44 without loss, the 2nds slumped to 56 for 5 and then 93 for 8. This time Jackson showed his prodigious talent with the bat as he struck three fours, including the winning shot, to finish on 12 not out, in tandem with partner Dylan Kane (8 not out) to take their side over the winning line.
The 3rd XI faced a carbon copy situation after they bowled out Greenfield 3rds for 113 but then slumped to 66 for 7 in the run chase. Opener Adam Taylor made 36, but it was left to skipper Pete Lorenzini (22 out out) and Muhammad Arif (9 not out) to strike up an unbeaten eighth wicket partnership to keep the 3rd team’s unbeaten record intact and cement their position at the top of the GMCL Sunday division.
Arif had earlier taken 3 for 22, Finlay Lester 2 for 10 and Karl West 3 for 17, which earned him the landmark achievement of passing 350 wickets for the club.
On Sunday, the 1sts travelled to Ormskirk for their Lancs Cup clash – the same team who had knocked Prestwich out of the National Knockout earlier this season.
Despite making 201 all out (Gibson 35, Alex Taylor 32), the home side passed it with some comfort and seven wickets to spare.
Danny Pawson took 2 of the 3 wickets to fall. Holden made 23 which took him to 8469 first team runs, up to 4th place in the post-war club batting records, surpassing former pro Craig Duxbury. He also notched his 200th catch during Saturday’s game against Woodbank.
The 4th XI made the short trip to neighbours Stand 3rds but could only post a total of 111, with Jack Fisher’s 25 the top score.
Anis Khaliq took 3 for 22 but Stand successfully chased it down by 4 wickets thanks to an unbeaten 71 for Sam Rubens.
The 5th team went on a run spree on their friendly visit to Rainhill, making 226 for 1, with Richard Hatchett, Max Sworder and Jamal Oryakhail all retiring after reaching 50, while young Manav Sharma struck an excellent 42.
The home side were then bowled out for 52. Ariz Sajid took 3 wickets for no runs, Dave Eckersley 2 for 2, and there were 3 run outs.
On Tuesday, Prestwich Patriots put themselves in the frame for the latter stages of the 2nd XI T20 Cup competition when they played Edgworth Fury B and won by 9 wickets.
Fury posted 135 for 6 (two wickets each for Jackson and Carter) before Adam Cheshire (49 not out) and Jack Doyle (45 not out) followed up 27 from Haris Aziz to secure victory.
WOODBANK v PRESTWICH
STAND 3XI v PRESTWICH 4XI
EDGWORTH BULLS B v PRESTWICH PATRIOTS
