The 3rd team came out top in two final-over thrillers last weekend.
Last man Sam Harding hit a six off the penultimate ball of the game to beat second-placed Whalley Range 3rd XI by one wicket on Saturday.
The following day, a rapid innings of 62 from 15-year-old Khalid Noori and five wickets from 14-year-old Thomas Orrell sparked a five-run triumph over Glodwick 3rds.
Whalley Range were the first to visit The Heys and thanks to 61 from Harry Smith, chalked up a total of 168 for 8. Muhammad Arif returned figures of 3 for 25, with Liam Potts taking 2-13, and Karl West 2-28.
Opener Adam Taylor then hit a fine 77, and with middle order contributions of 23 from Noori and 17 from Anees Arif, they were well positioned at 146 for 4. But a collapse saw Prestwich slip to 163 for 9, until Harding smashed the ball over the boundary to seal a last-gasp victory.
Twenty four hours later, the 3rds batted first against Glodwick 3rds, and made 184 for 7, but the innings was of bizarre construction. After George Neill-Platt (23) and Muhammad Arif (13) had put on 51 for the first wicket, they lost five wickets for 2 runs, until Chris Nuttall steadied the ship, making 29. Noori then blasted 4 sixes and 6 fours off 39 balls in his 62 in a partnership with skipper Pete Lorenzini (28 not out) which reaped 80 runs in 10.4 overs.
Glodwick reached 148 for 4 with six overs left, before Orrell – having dismissed opener Mehnass Taqir for 50, – struck another four times to finish with 5 for 40. With nine runs needed for victory from the last over, Muhammad Arif conceded just 3 runs for Prestwich to record another narrow and nail-biting triumph. The victories meant Prestwich moved up to third place in the GMCL Sunday Premier Division.
The 2nd team fell 14 runs short of the target in their crucial clash last Saturday with Droylsden 1sts, who were bowled out for 143. Adam Cheshire took 3 for 38, but Tom Scott’s return of 5 for 52 was significant in more ways than one, as it marked his last appearance for the club due to moving away from the area. He joined in 2013, playing mostly for the first team.
Skipper Haris Aziz batted superbly for 79, but no one could stay with him, and he was ninth man out before the team were dismissed for 129.
The 4th team notched victory in their friendly with Brooklands 3rds, who totalled 118 for 7 from the 35-over allocation.
Wickets were shared as Finlay Lester came out best with 2 for 10, while wicketkeeper Sam Regan claimed 4 victims, 3 of which were stumped.
Regan, aged 14, then struck a fine 42 while Charlie Jackson, aged 12, cracked an unbeaten half century in a superb opening stand of 117. Superb not just for the runs accrued, but that young Regan has just recovered from a broken thumb, while even younger Jackson suffered a broken leg early in the season. Jackson retired on 52 as the 4ths passed the target with seven wickets in hand.
