Prestwich got their Lancashire County League season of to a superb start with a 7 wicket win over last years champions Denton St Lawrence.
After a couple of weeks of glorious weather, it was a typically wet beginning to the 2015 cricket season as the start was delayed resulting in a 38 over game.
Ryan Stanbury was the pick of the Prestwich bowlers taking 4-53 off 11 overs as Lawrence’s overseas player Luke Dempsey hit 91 in a total of 202-9. Wilf Reeve took 2 early wickets as DSL struggled at 9-2 and Ali Raza held 3 catches beating his record of 2 for the whole of last season.
Raza also played a major part with the bat after tea, hitting an unbeaten 48 off 43 balls which included 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Superb from @ali_raza31 too. #scoop pic.twitter.com/XFRg8OrPCX
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) April 25, 2015
But the headlines belonged to Sam Holden who despatched the champions to all parts of The Heys. His 21 fours and 3 sixes contributed to a total of 131 not out as Prestwich reached their target with 7 overs to spare. 29 of those Prestwich runs came in the final over as DSL’s Dempsey finished with figures of 2-74.
Good first game win for the Prestwich boys! @SamHolden2.. My new hero!
— Lewis Jarvis (@LewJarvo27) April 25, 2015
Holden already held the record score for a Prestwich player at Denton St Lawrence’s ground with his knock of 120 in 2013. He now holds the record against Lawrence’s at home as well, surpassing Ian Walker’s 127* from back in 2003.
There was no Holden Sam @PrestwichSport with unbeaten 131, oh, and 1st match victory over @dslcc1 #cricket☝ pic.twitter.com/CL3lGhAMqP
— iScoop (@iScoop_Photos) April 25, 2015
So a winning four-point start for Andy Bradley’s team will restore confidence after that friendly mauling at Clifton last week as they look forward to next weekends away league double-header against Woodhouses and Denton.
LCL Division 1 – 25/04/2015
Denton 158-5 (5-0) Stretford 157 all out
Denton West 41-2 (5-0) Woodhouses 40 all out
Glossop 178-4 (4-0) Woodbank 176-7
Prestwich 207-3 (4-0) Denton St Lawrence 202-9
Roe Green 177 all out (0-5) Thornham 179-9
Stand 167-6 (4-0) Flowery Field 163-2
On Sunday, Prestwich travelled to LCL rivals Dukinfield in the ECB National Knock-out. The home side finished 166 all out with Ryan Stanbury taking 3-27, skipper Andy Bradley 2-23 and Sam Holden 2-30.
In reply, Sam Holden continued his good form from the previous day with 57, Ryan Stanbury 41 and Tom Scott 22 not out as the visitors won with 10 overs to spare.
