Prestwich 2nd team booked their place in the final of the Per-Fit 2nd XI Cup Final after a low-scoring nail-biter at Clifton.
Nick Carter’s 4 for 13 helped to restrict Clifton to 94, with the Prestwich attack all returning good figures.
Adam Cheshire’s 2 for 12 and Stephen Ritchie’s 2 for 21 were backed with a wicket apiece for Qasim Memon and Oliver Holt.
But when Robert Lord ripped out Prestwich’s top five batsman for just 24 runs, it looked bleak. Qasim Memon struck 31 and 15-year-old Jack Doyle occupied the crease for a studious and mature innings of 17 not out, to repair much of the damage, and Carter (12 not out) was on hand with Doyle to see their side pass the target with four wickets to spare.
They will play Woodbank 2nd XI in the final at Elton CC on Sunday August 6.
Prestwich first team bowed out of the Lancashire Cup at the quarter final stage, but gave Liverpool Competition leaders Ormskirk a fright.
The West Lancashire team, who had uprooted their opposition for just 41 the day before, boast two Lancashire second players in their opening bowling attack. Yet Ryan Stanbury made a typically positive start, hitting six fours in his 28.
But at 83 for 7, Prestwich were in danger of faltering tamely. However, James Wharmby inspired a rearguard action, notching up an excellent unbeaten half century, and in doing so, pushed the total up to a respectable 136.
After Stanbury removed Andy Baybutt with the second ball of the Ormskirk innings, two more wickets from Stanbury in the space of three balls left Ormskirk on 38 for 3, causing an unexpected rush of padding up in the home dressing room.
However, the highly rated Josh Bohannon, having survived a chance with the score on 70, struck an admirable 83 not out, allowing Ormskirk to wipe their brow and secure a place in the semi-final by seven wickets.
Prestwich 1st XI’s league form took another body blow on Saturday when they lost to Denton West in a rain-affected game.
West were bowled out for 179, with John McAllister top scoring on 46 and skipper Andy Bradley bagging 5 for 52.
Prestwich had been making good progress at 80 for 2, but the quick loss of Sam Holden for 27 and Ali Raza for 32, making it 82 for 4, came at just the wrong time. A rain break followed shortly afterwards, bringing the Duckworth Lewis calculations into play.
Twenty overs were lost to the rain, and meant Prestwich required 40 runs off five overs. Despite plundering 13 off the first, Hamish Dunlop took three wickets to harness the run glut, and Prestwich fell a disappointing 13 runs adrift.
Prestwich 2nds fared no better after being humbled for 51 in their league match with Swinton Moorside. Ritchie grabbed three wickets, but the visitors coasted home by seven wickets.
Prestwich 3rds lost their encounter with Wythenshawe 2nds on Saturday. Teenage leg spinner Edward Whitehead grabbed 5 for 60 as the hosts were dismissed for 199, but Prestwich could only manage 88 in reply.
On Sunday, Bolton Indians racked up 236 for 7 and Prestwich fell 100 short, for the loss of eight wickets.
Prestwich 1sts face league leaders Woodbank at The Heys on Saturday, while the 2nds travel away to play Wythenshawe 1sts.
On Sunday, the third team welcome Friends Sporting.
