1XI – GUTSY DISPLAY IN VAIN

Thursday July 16th 2009 | Cricket

A GUTSY rearguard batting display could not stop Prestwich suffering their fourth successive defeat. Woodhouses had the Heys team on the ropes at 72 for 7 but a resilient innings of 43 from Mike Hudson followed by a sparkling unbeaten 49 from Andy Bradley gave them a fighting chance.

However, the game was ultimately marred when Woodhouses player Chris Atherton took umbrage when given out l.b.w.

A remark made by Atherton to the umpire as he reluctantly made his way back to the pavilion led to the official standing down for the rest of the game, and both teams leaving the field.

After a 20-minute break, both sides returned to the pitch with a substitute umpire in place.

The incident happened with the Woodhouses score on 126 for 4 in pursuit of a 161-run target.

Mike Cassidy had made 55 for the home side to put them in a strong position, but a tight spell of bowling by Amal Dalugoda and Bradley had pegged them back.

Following the stoppage, Bradley dismissed both Tuson and Sloan in the space of 12 runs but Sri Lankan Alles and Steve Clarke with 17 not out escorted Woodhouses past the Prestwich total.

Earlier in the day, Prestwich had found themselves in “Alles” sorts of trouble on a wicket the Sri Lankan found to his liking. He bowled unbroken for 25 overs and finished with 4 for 69. Slumping to 40 for 6, Hudson took up the mantle to steer Prestwich out of troubled waters.

Sam Holden made 9 in a stand of 32 with Hudson before a 52 run partnership with the free-hitting Bradley.

Hudson batted with excellent attrition, with five fours and a six, while Bradley wielded the blade to great effect, with four boundaries and two sixes in his 48-ball innings, and was left agonisingly stranded on 49.

Oliver Holt also added to the late-order fireworks with a cameo of 19 not out in 12 balls.

Chris Humphreys then struck early in the Woodhouses innings with the score on 7 but a 90-run partnership between Cassidy and Joe Clarke (29) laid the foundations of a four wicket – and tainted – victory.