Prestwich’s captain and vice captain played key but different roles in their 72-run victory over Greenmount last Saturday.
Skipper Andy Bradley and his right-hand man Tom Gibson would have had to armwrestle for the man-of-the match award after their equally outstanding efforts.
They were at the centre of the major turning points in a fluctuating game where – despite nearly 380 runs being scored – no batsman notched more than 39.
Whilst Prestwich’s fluent start saw them reach the three-figure mark before the 20th over, there was a steady stream of wickets too, with Mark Stewart (3 for 75) removing openers James Wharmby for 1 and Ryan Stanbury for 32, and pro Marty Walters dismissed for 19 by Danny Hornby before the ton was rolled up. A rewarding 15-over spell from Hornby of 4 for 51 made the home side work hard for their runs, although Sam Holden was looking in excellent form before chopping onto his stumps for 39, and Ali Raza made a circumspect 34 before becoming Hornby’s third scalp.
Prestwich were potentially in a spot of bother when Gibson arrived at the wicket at 125-4, with a mere 23 overs bowled, but like the finest adhesive, he stuck to his task like a limpet with suction pads. Latterly, when joined by Bradley at 180 for 8, with nearly 10 overs left, some sensible and cautious occupation of the crease ensured they used up their 50 allotted overs. It also allowed Bradley to unleash a couple of sixes in his innings of 20, while Gibson remained undefeated on 33, giving Prestwich a highly satisfactory total.
The visitors made a solid start and were keeping up with the run rate at 70 for 1, causing Prestwich to get itchy for a second breakthrough. Again, it was the Bradders-Gibbo combo which did the trick, although the Prestwich captain was lucky that his stomach-high full toss would have rocketed to the mid-wicket boundary had Andy Kerr (24) not directed it within reach of Gibson’s palms, who made a difficult catch look ridiculously easy.
Bradley started to weave his magic through the Greenmount middle order, and only the stubborn Ryan Senior (28) gave any sustained resistance, before becoming Bradley’s fifth victim.
Bradley finished with figures of 6 for 44 from 14 overs, but it was Gibson who had the final say. Having taken three catches already, he then swooped to run out Darren Foy with only wicket to aim at, thus finishing the match in spectacular style.
With three games of the season remaining, Prestwich lie in second place, three points behind leaders Egerton. Prestwich travel to Edgworth on Saturday before a home fixture at home to fourth-placed Flixton on Sunday, knowing that two victories would set up a final day showdown with Egerton on September 10.
Prestwich 2nd XI maintained their slender one-point lead at the top of division three with a comfortable victory against Greenmount 2nd XI, and welcome Edgworth 2nd XI to The Heys this Saturday.
