A last wicket blast from the bat of skipper Andy Bradley gave Prestwich a dramatic victory at the home of Northern League leaders Leyland.
The spinner joined Tom Scott at the crease with 32 runs needed in a low-scoring Lancashire Cup tie on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 120, 13 runs were still required off the final two overs, but Bradley smashed a six and a four to turn the tables in his side’s favour.
He cracked an unbeaten 22 and survived a run-out chance before Scott hit the winning single with three balls to spare.
Graft and determination was needed on a tricky wicket, as batsmen from both sides found scoring arduous.
However, there was a delay as early as the second over – but not for once due to the weather. A duck and about 10 ducklings waddled from one side of the ground to the other causing a 10-minute break in proceedings!
Ryan Stanbury struck twice in two balls, the second of which was the scalp of South Australian professional Alex Ross. His off stump was knocked clean out the ground from his first delivery.
Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Thompson’s innings of 45 the mainstay for the home side. Aided by some exemplary fielding from the likes of Adam Cheshire and Dave Taylor, Leyland were restricted to 120 for 9 from the full 45 overs, with Stanbury returning the standout figures of 4 for 20, with Scott (2-29) and Carl Hey (2-21) grabbing two wickets each.
In reply, Prestwich were reduced to 25 for 3, but Sam Holden and Taylor took the score to 67 before Taylor was adjudged l.b.w. for 15. Ali Raza’s dismissal for 7 made it 85 for 5, triggering the loss of another four wickets for just four runs, including that of Holden for a gritty 37.
However, Bradley provided the sting in the tail to earn the Heys men a place in the third round.
Sweat, toil, hard work and a return to form of professional Hey earned Prestwich a deserved victory in their Lancs County League encounter away at Denton St Lawrence (DSL) on Saturday.
Only three bowlers were used as the home side were restricted to 191 for 8 on a tame deck.
Bradley, Stanbury and Holden shared the bowling burden between them, and each played their part in preventing the target from reaching sizeable proportions.
Despite a flourishing start form opener Mark Dilnutt , who made 70 out of a total of 94, Holden claimed the vital scalps of the Hawley brothers, and the dismissal of Dilnutt by Stanbury allowed Prestwich to rein in the run rate.
The first ball after the drinks break also proved significant, and not just because Bradley’s delivery brought the wicket of professional Danny Cranmer. But his airborne legside shot was caught at square leg by Steve Orrell, giving the veteran his 300th first team catch.
Tinning and Batty provided support to Ben Tighe, who was responsible for re-shaping the DSL innings, and made a well-struck half century before becoming Holden’s third victim.
An opening stand of 98 from the in-form James Wharmby and Hey gave the ideal platform.
Wharmby had made a solid 42, made up of six fours and a six, before he was caught close-up by Tighe off Cranmer.
Tom Gibson, hindered by a bloodshot eye, took a while to get his eye in, but gave good support to Hey who serenely stroked his way past 50.
The duo were also ahead of the run rate, and it was not until the score was on 134 that Cranmer, who ended with 4 for 52, grabbed a second wicket. Hey was trapped l.b.w. for 74, with 11 boundaries to his name.
Three wickets fell in quick succession, but with Gibson now fully visual, he remained unbeaten on 35 as Taylor carved the winning run through point for an excellent four-point triumph.
A home league match with Denton on Saturday is followed by a Walkden Cup quarter-final tie at home to Thornham on Sunday.
