The first team had the rub of the green to progress into the next round of the Derek Kay Cup after a dramatic bowl-out victory against high-flying Edgworth on Sunday.
Prestwich were initially tasked with chasing down a taxing total of 256-9 from 45 overs before thunder, lightning and heavy rain wiped out any chance of starting their reply.
Prior to the torrential downpour, a wave of mighty hits from Adnan Ghaus, who hit 6 sixes in his 48 off 23 balls, gave a late surge to the home side’s total. Despite suffering from the Ghaus backlash in his last over, Tom Gibson still returned honourable figures of 5 for 54.
With puddles and surface water on most of the ground, the all-weather strip was used for the bowl out. With nerves of steel, Charlie Jackson was the first to hit the stumps, followed by Andy Bradley and Ryan Maddock, and despite a late strike from Edgworth, Prestwich emerged winners by a 3—1 margin.
They now face an away tie at Woodbank this Sunday.
The first team’s league encounter with Heaton on Saturday unfortunately did not have a similarly happy outcome, losing by 37 runs.
Heaton had compiled 234 for 9 with Tilaksha Malshan making an excellent 110. Andy Bradley took 3-74, Nathan Bailey 2-44 and Charlie Jackson bowled a good mid-innings spell to return 1 for 30.
Maddock’s victim took him to 93 first team wickets and level with Steven Lorenzini in 38th place in the bowling records, one above ex pro footballer Stuart Jump (1967-74), ex Prestwich pro Graham Knowles (1997-98) and Don Pringle (1950-51). He made 38th place his own with 2 more wickets in the Sunday cup tie.
Opener Stuart Els batted superbly for 95 (from 129 balls) as Prestwich made a valiant attempt to overhaul the Heaton target, and whilst Els was at the crease, Prestwich always stood a chance. He shared a sixth-wicket stand of 68 with Gibson (22), but when that was broken up, Els followed shortly afterwards and the side was dismissed for 197. Andy Bradley’s 2 not out took him to 1869 runs and level 34th in the batting records with a certain Tim Orrell!
Stuart Els battled in vain with a superb 95 against Heaton on Saturday.
The 2nd team had no game last weekend but the 3rd team was back in action only for the stormy weather to bring it to an early conclusion and the match was abandoned.
The game had been finely balanced after Royton 3rds were bowled out 137 (Umar Arif 4-20 from 10 overs, Stephen Ritchie 3-37), and Prestwich were laid up at 68-4 when rain stopped any further play.
The 4ths sprung to the top of their division after defeating Ashton Ladysmith 2nds using the DLS method.
The visitors were bowled out for 102 following a fine opening spell from Ariz Sajid (3 for 24), backed up by 3 for 12 from Sam Staley and 3 for 20 from Ben Pinkus.
Liam Potts then hit an unbeaten 36 as they reached 66 for 5 before the weather intervened, but that was enough to secure a victory.
The 5th team had no game.
Last Thursday, both Prestwich Heat and Prestwich Patriots were in T20 action.
Heat defeated Whalley Rangers by 22 runs after setting a total of 161 for 5. Nikhil Gangta and Ryan Stanbury both struck 42 and Els 27. A brace of wickets each for Gibson and Bradley helped restrict the visitors to 139 for 9. James Wharmby’s 2nd catch was his 240th as a wicketkeeper but with 60 as an outfielder, took him to 300 in total.
Dylan Kane cracked 65 as Prestwich Patriots posted a sizeable total of 175 for 5 in their T20 game against Milnrow Rams 2. Thomas Orrell smashed 34 in 20 balls, and Hassnain Ashfaq (19), Uwais Khaliq (19), George Neill (13) and Khalid Noori (10) all chipped in.
The Rams reached 147 for 8, with two wickets each for Ashfaq, Khaliq and Muhammad Arif.
