Lewis leads the way to Woodbank win

by | Friday May 26th 2023 | Cricket

Opening batsman Lewis Smith fell six runs short of a deserved century as Prestwich sealed an excellent victory at Woodbank.

His innings of 94, included 12 boundaries, propelled his side’s score to 217 for 5 at the end of their 50-over allotment.

A stand of 106 for the third wicket with Stuart Els, who made a fine 45, provided the backbone to the total.

The hosts were reduced to 38 for 4 as first Nathan Bailey, and then Ryan Maddock, struck twice.

The key wicket of Imran Mirza was claimed by Charlie Jackson to make it 59 for 5 and the home side could not recover after that, slumping to 80 all out.

Jackson finished with the remarkable figures of 4 for 10 from 5.4 overs, four of which were maidens.

Bailey was back on song with a return of 4-34 and the consistent Maddock finished with 2-30.

The following day, the 1st team’s trip to Lowerhouse in the Lancashire Cup proved a damp squib, losing by seven wickets.

Opener James Wharmby made 33 but the score nosedived to 79 all out. Lowerhouse passed the target with seven wickets in hand.

The 2nd team had a doubly successful weekend under the stand-in captaincy of Dylan Kane, starting off with a hard-fought 26-run victory over Daisy Hill 1sts.

Thomas Orrell (33) and Haris Aziz (31) were the top scorers in Prestwich’s seemingly below-par total of 115.

But a superb opening spell from Sam Staley, who reaped figures of 4 for 10, backed up by Finlay Lester’s return of 4 for 27 (all bowled!) saw Hill facing a mountain to climb, and were dismissed for 89.

Haris Aziz and Thomas Orrell in action against Daisy Hill.

On Sunday, Glossop 2nds were the visitors in the 2nd XI Cup and they were bowled out for 86. Khalid Noori(2-4), Sam Staley (2-16) and Adam Cheshire (2-19) all chipped in. Noori (24) and Orrell (23) helped pave the way for a six-wicket triumph.

The 3rds had no game but the 4th XI match against Wythenshawe 3rds saw an amazing finish where the scores were tied.

Prestwich finished on 151-9, with James Mercer top scoring on 52, and contributions of 21 fromn Richard Hatchett and 13 not out from Chris Heys. In reply, Wythenshawe struggled in the face of some excellent bowlng from Ariz Sajid who took 5 for 26.

Eight runs were was required off the last over to win, and it boiled down to the final delivery where four would tie and a six give Wythenshawe victory. A fielding mishap allowed the home side to find the boundary rope and scrape a share of the spoils.

Ariz Sajid took 5 for 26 for Prestwich 4XI in their tied match at Wythenshawe.

The 5th XI lost out in a friedly against Brooklands. Shaheryar Khan struck a half century before retiring as Prestwich made 132 for 8 but hosts passed the target comfortably.

The weekend was a brilliant showcase for some of the young Prestwich bowling talents, who played pivotal roles in the 1st and 2nd team victories, and in the 4th’s tied game