PRESTWICH’S Matt Wiley blazed an unbeaten 92 to pave the way for a nine-wicket victory over Woodbank.
It was an all-round “G’Day” for the Australian as he took centre stage in an unbroken stand of 146 with opener Steve Orrell, while grabbing two catches into the bargain.
In pursuit of a 189-run target, Wiley’s mix of textbook drives and cavalier belligerence in just 66 balls rocked back the Woodbank attack, for whom professional Steve Dearden had bowled a troublesome opening spell.
The Heys team had earlier performed well to peg back a rejuvenated Woodbank side after they had made made a slick start. After losing 13-year-old Harry Dearden for 8, snicking a catch to keeper Wiley off pro Danny Jones, Steve Dearden and opener Holt made stealthy progress before a double bowling change altered the course of the game.
Spinner Chris Jones and teenager Tom Gibson each grabbed two quick wickets to wrestle the initiative. Holt was l.b.w off Jones for 36 who also enticed Haynes into a drive and was caught by Elliot Woodage at short extra cover for 5.
Gibson landed a hefty blow to dismiss Dearden for 20, Woodage clasping the catch, this time at slip, and then skipper Steven Lorenzini clutched onto a “looper” from Dave McCheyne at mid-wicket to give Gibson (2 for 30) his second victim.
From 67 for 1, the score had dipped to 86 for 5, but Brett Collins began to repair the damage with a brisk innings of 39 until Chris Jones (3 for 35 off 14 overs) ended his stay when Chris Thomas took a superb running catch at deep mid-wicket, having started off from deep square leg!
Woodage repeated his feat of last week with a wicket in his first over, and at 168 for 9, Prestwich were looking good to claim all 10 wickets.
However Nick Kennedy played a sensible and calculated innings of 26 not out to thwart the home side’s intentions.
Openers Danny Jones and Steve Orrell made a breezy start of 47, despite the opening efforts of Dearden who frequently beat the bat.
Jones had made 16 before Dearden found a thin edge and it was snapped up by wickwetkeeper Chapman.
That proved the visitors’ one and only success as Orrell stood steadfast at the crease, hitting an unbeaten 64, while Wiley peppered the outfield and beyond with 3 sixes and 14 fours to earn the team a four-point victory.
Prestwich face a challenging double header this weekend with away fixtures at Woodhouses and Roe Green.
* The second team recorded a thumping 161-run victory at Woodbank with an unbeaten century from Jon O’Connor and 92 from Luke O’Brien in their total of 276 for 4. Matt Walsh took 5 for 35 in the Woodbank reply of 115 all out.
