The 1st team gained a much-needed league victory over Shaw before losing out in a T20 run-crazy final on Sunday.
A five-wicket haul for Ryan Maddock (5 for 54) backed up by 3 for 45 from Danny Pawson put the skids under Shaw on Saturday for whom James Chadwick struck 44 in the number 9 slot. It meant Maddock passed the 40-wicket mark in all competitions this season and Pawson’s 3 wickets took him to 89 and 43rd place in the club’s bowling records ahead of J.G. Collins (1947-48).
Skipper James Wharmby (19) and Stuart Els (14) were both back in the pavilion with the score on 42 but Lewis Smith (above) continued his excellent season with an unbeaten 51, supported first by Nikhil Gangta (26) and Pawson (21no) to comfortably reach the required target with seven wickets to spare.
Smith’s half century pushed him past the 500-run mark for the season.
The re-arranged GMCL T20 Finals Day at Roe Green had again looked in doubt because of the rain, but games were shortened in a bid to complete the tournament before an expected deluge.
The decision proved a wise one as rain did arrive in buckets shortly after Roe Green Renegades had struck the two winning sixes to beat Prestwich Heat and lift the T20 trophy with four balls to spare.
The final was reduced to 12 overs per side and Heat rattled up a challenging score of 123 for 3, thanks to an unbeaten 46 from Gangta and 46 from Wharmby.
Pro Nikhil Gangta top scored in both Heat games on finals day.
Pro Hanno Kotze struck a whirlwind 76 not out and 11 runs were required off the last over, but Luke Williams completed the task in 2 balls to give his side a spectacular victory.
Heat had earlier played Shaw Spartans in a 10-over semi-final and won with 3 balls to spare. Andy Bradley took 3 for 8 and Maddock 2 for 12 as Shaw posted 77 for 6. Gangta (34no) and Pawson (32) then ensured the side’s passage to the final
The 2nd XI faced Oldham 1sts and restricted them to 185 for 9, Khalid Noori taking 3 for 33 and Charlie Jackson 3 for 44. From 11 for 3, Daniel Ahern (33) and Uwais Khaliq (22) staged a recovery until 3 wickets fell with the socre on 70 and only Jackson (12no) gave any further resistance before the side was dismissed for 104.
The rain spoilt the afternoon for the 3rd team who had travelled to Greenfield 3rds and were chasing a total of 214 all out. Andrew Cadd hit 91 for the hosts off 59 balls, inlcluding 8 sixes, while Sam Staley returned the best figures of 4 for 55, with Karl West and Stephen Ritchie taking two each.
Prestwich had made a solid start and were 25-0 (Finlay Lester 19no) when rain halted any further play and the game was abandoned.
The 4th team’s fixture against Mottram 3rds was abandoned without a ball bowled.
However, the 5th team managed a 24-over friendly at Stockport Georgians who set a target of 134 for 6 (Sahil Khan 3-14). Prestwich were 87 for 8 in reply, with only Gary Hershcovitch (18) making double figures.
