Prestwich and Woodhouses served up a match fit for royalty on a weekend when the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee took centre stage.
And the jubilee turned jubilant for the Heys team as they won by seven runs in an incredibly tense and fluctuating finish.
Woodhouses’ batsman Will Chapples hit 97 off just 51 balls, containing only one four – but 10 sixes!
And even when he was finally dismissed, Woodhouses needed 10 runs to win off the last over – with three wickets in hand.
But a run out followed by two wickets with the last two deliveries of Andy Taylor’s over gave Prestwich not just a breathless victory, but a maximum five points as well.
Batting first, Prestwich racked up 298 for 8 off their allotted 50 overs, with some excellent top order contributions.
Despite the unavailability of pro Danny Jones, James Wharmby cracked a superb 77, Sam Holden blasted 67 in 50 balls – containing four boundaries and six sixes – and Matt Wiley made hard-hitting 51.
The third wicket stand of 119 between Holden and Wharmby had put the home side in a strong position, but a little mid-order blip saw 212 for 2 become 221 for 5, and on a good batting track, Prestwich knew they had to further capitalise on their good start.
Again, skipper Steven Lorenzini and Steve Orrell forged a useful partnership of 40 before Lorenzini gave a return catch to Chappells for 19, while Orrell carried through for an unbeaten 38 and the total peaked just short of 300.
Woodhouses’ reply was soon interrupted by rain, causing the loss fo 15 overs and it meant the visitors faced a daunting revised target of 231 to win from 35 overs.
With the Woodhouses top three of Mike Cassidy caught and bowled by Andy Bradley for 15, Nick Doyle caught by Lorenzini off Taylor for 24, and Josh Tolley caught at deep mid-off by Tom Gibson for 38, followed by two excellent stumpings by Wiley, the Failsworth side were reduced to 137 for 5, and facing an asking rate of 10 runs an over.
But Chappells unleashed such a volley of clean hitting, he turned the game totally upside down. He continously struck the ball over the head of deep long-off, putting the visitors firmly back in the game.
Holden was introduced to the Prestwich attack by skipper Lorenzini and he produced a killer blow when Chappells edged to keeper Wiley to end one of the best knocks seen at The Heys in recent seasons.
With the score on 207 for 6, Holden struck again when Elliot Woodage, who had an outstanding day in the field, clasped onto a catch at deep mid-on to dismiss Chris Reeves.
But Mark Akin kept his side in the hunt with a four over extra cover and it all boiled down to a dramatic last over.
Callum Megram was run out off the third ball trying a second run to the arm of Chris Thomas, and Taylor bowled Prescott with his fifth delivery, and elation followed as he pinned Louis Phelan l.b.w with the last ball of the game, giving him figures of 6 for 106, and sending Woodhouses out for 224.
Woodhouses played their part in an excellent game of cricket and, having been Prestwich’s main rivals during last year’s league triumph, showed their current lowly league position does not do them any justice.
* Prestwich 2nd XI gained a welcome victory at Woodhouses with David Smith taking 5 for 39 and David Taylor hitting 74 in their eight-wicket triumph.
