Prestwich 1sts registered a hard-fought victory over Royton in the GMCL Premiership while the 2nds and 3rds posted excellent cup victories.
The 1st team’s 39-run win over Royton was a much-needed league boost, and skipper Sam Holden and the evergreen (and surprisingly agile) Andy Bradley played key roles.
Bradley notched up his 67th five-wicket haul, taking 5 for 38, coincidentally the exact figures he achieved earlier in the season against the same team. It also took him past the incredible landmark of 1,300 wickets for the first team.
But the standout feature of Bradders’ display was a magical caught and bowled – this scribe cannot remember seeing him take one better!
Royton looked favourites at 91 for 2 when Renaldo Holder slammed the ball back down the wicket, inches off the ground, but Bradley lunged from his lofty perch in a split second to take a remarkable catch.
When Ali Azmat forced pro Chirag Khurana into his first real error, this time a much simpler catch to Bradley, he was dismissed for 40 and the home side careered from 93 for 3 to 119 all out. Azmat’s figures of 4 for 30 were his season’s best.
Prestwich had earlier set a total of 158 from their 30-over allocation, after rain forced a delayed start. Holden made an accomplished 51 but was outdone by the inclement bounce from Khurana who took 4 for 38. This was Holden’s 41st half century for the club. A fine little cameo of 15 not out from Tom Scott gave Prestwich a cushion that ultimately proved vital.
The 2nds found Glossop 2nds 15 runs superior at The Heys, after the visitors were dismissed for 148. Aaryaman Roy was the star bowler, returning 5 for 14.
In reply, Lewis Smith (31) and Adam Taylor (30) set a solid foundation, but from 67 for 1, a steady flow of wickets left them stranded on 133 all out.
The 2nds made no mistake the following day in their 2nd XI Cup semi-final against Greenfield, putting out their rivals for 136, despite 52 from Adam Jones. Adam Cheshire grabbed 5 for 22 and skipper Pete Lorenzini 3 for 39.
Smith (36 not out) and Jack Doyle (32 not out) guided the side to an 8-wicket win and a place in the final.
Meanwhile the 3rd XI were on cup quarter-final duty at Edenfield, and returned victorious by four wickets. A superb bowling performance, led by Anees Arif (4 for 10), dismissed the home side for 73.
The target was hastily reached in 13.1 overs but was not plain sailing as B Seeley (5 for 21) was responsible for Prestwich undergoing a wobble on 57 for 6 before the calm of skipper Steven Lorenzini and the youthfulness of Umar Arif ensured there were no further hiccups.
HANDY BRADLEY
