1XI – Sit tight for rollercoaster ride

Tuesday May 11th 2010 | Cricket

Prestwich 80ao (0) v Flowery Field 151ao (5)
Prestwich 137-7 (5) v Roe Green 133ao (0)
LCL Division One at Heys Road, Prestwich
8th & 9th May 2010

Prestwich could be in for a rollercoaster season after a mixed return from their weekend double-header on home soil.

The season was looking far from rosy after high-flying Flowery Field put the Heys team to bed on Saturday.

But Prestwich came back fighting on Sunday to grind out a tense three-wicket win over visitors Roe Green.

Despite professional Danny Jones absent for both games, the home bowling attack still had plenty of firepower to rumble out Flowery for a relative snip – 151.

However, at 43 for 5, and then from at 105 for 8, Prestwich had the chance to mow them down for a lot less, although some wayward bowling contributed to a loathsome 26 extras.

Holt gleaned from 4 for 43 from a 16-over spell, while Phil Kyle (2-36), Andy Bradley (2-34) and Sam Holden (2-7) were all in the thick of the wickets

Rival pro Steven Oddy then provided a stern test for the home batsmen, as he struck early in tandem with the reliable Glenn Middleton, and runs were hard to come by.

Only two reached double figures – 21 from Chris Thomas and 14 from Holt – as Prestwich wilted to 80 all out.

Oddy, whose 18 overs reaped 4 for 28, Middleton, with 4 for 41, and Damien Eyre (2 for 3) kept the stranglehold on the home batting and Prestwich fell meekly to a 71-run defeat.

With their backs to the wall, Prestwich need a good start when facing Roe Green 24 hours later, and Holt ensured the top order were given a torrid introduction as his fiery blast earned him two wickets and Kyle another to plunge Roe Green to 5 for 3 – with the top three in the pavilion without a run to their name.

Green captain Ashley Williams started to rebuild his side’s innings before he was adjudged caught and bowled by Kyle, despite strong claims that it was a “bump” ball.

But the decision stood, and Norris managed to lead a mini-recovery with a feisty 39. Kyle’s perseverance was rewarded with a five wicket haul (for 44 runs) while Holt’s lengthy endeavours did not quite do him justice (2 for 44).

However, his replacement Holden took up the cudgels and took 3 for 11 to restrict the visitors to 133.

Green then dished out similar treatment, taking three early wickets, to leave Prestwich floundering at 11 for 3.

Lewis Johnston (29) and Steve Orrell (33) started to repair the damage to push the score beyond the 50-mark but another mini-collapse followed and at 75 for 6, the game was balanced on a knife edge.

Holt took on the responsibility in tandem with Gareth Barnes to stage a partnership of 50 and took Prestwich to the cusp of victory before Barnes was superbly caught by Williams for 21.

However, a sweep by Holt to leave him unbeaten on 34 enabled Prestwich to bag a hard-earned five points.

LCL Results Matchday 3 & 4

Nick Hardman’s ten wicket weekend helped Woodhouses keep up their superb start to the new season and set them clear leaders at the top of Division One. Glossop, Stand and Flowery Field keep the pressure on all just a single point behind.

Saturday 8th May 2010
DIVISION ONE

Cheetham Hill (5) 260-7 Yousuf Anwar 55, Ali Raza 110 n.o., Nick Bridgeford 5-61
Roe Green (0) 156-10 Jamie Birch 54, Adeel Hussain 4-59, Modi Ali 4-34

DSL (0) 141-10 Manny Khan 6-60
Irlam (5) 256-8 Jason Gleave 65, Scott Lowery 96

Dukinfield (0) 182-9 Mark Stringer 36, Stuart Catterall 4-42
Stand (4) 183-9 Matthew Curphey 51 n.o., Ridee 4-61

Glossop (4) 203-4 Dale Pennington 114, Adam Wilson 41 n.o.
Denton (0) 199-7 Matt Leech 56, Chris Aurisch 42, Will Hrgreaves 4-40

Prestwich (0) 80-10 Steve Oddy 4-28, Glyn Middleton 4-41
Flowery Field (5) 151-10 Oliver Holt 4-43

Thornham (0) 125-10 Nick Hardman 5-18
Woodhouses (5) 126-1 James Clarke 51 n.o., Josh Tolley 65 n.o.

Woodbank (0) 122-10 Paul Turner 5-39
Denton West (5) 286-7 Lee Dale 92, John Foreman 70 n.o.

DIVISION TWO

Denton (0) 115-10 v Glossop (5) 116-6
Denton West (5) 189-10 Woodbank (0)160-10
Flowery Field (0) 84ao v. Prestwich (5) 243-8d
Irlam (0) 71-10 v. D.S.L. (5) 225-8
Roe Green (0) 96-10 v. Cheetham Hill (5) 268-7
Stand (5) 91-2 v. Dukinfield (0) 86-10
Woodhouses (4) 162-1 v. Thornham (1) 161-9

Sunday 9th May 2010
DIVISION ONE

Cheetham Hill (5) 176-10 Modi Ali 72, Ridee 5-40
Dukinfield (0) 159-10 Ridee 72, Adeel Hussain 5-70, Modi Ali 4-55

Denton (0) 119-10 Steve Wharton 35, Nick Hardman 5-11, Sam Sweeney 3-38
Woodhouses (5) Mike Cassidy 54 n.o., Chris Aurisch 3-37

DSL (0) 166-10 Imran Mirza 59, Greg Harwick 6-68
Glossop (5) 237-9 Bathiya Perera 123

Flowery Field (5) 201-9 Matt Hawley 50, Jamie Garde 4-25
Denton West (0) 164-10 Damian Eyre 5-47

Irlam (0) 199-10 Lewis Jackson 50
Woodbank (5) 201-7 Brett Collins 65

Prestwich (5) 137-7 Oliver Holt 34 n.o.
Roe Green (0) 133-10 Luke Norris 39, Phil Kyle 5-44, Sam Holden 3-11

Stand (5) 165-1 Dave Taylor 64, Amila Weththasinghe 54 n.o.
Thornham (0) 164-10 Steve Grey 79, Carl Sutcliffe 4-38

DIVISION TWO

Denton West (1) 194-7 v Flowery Field (4) 238-8
Dukinfield (0) 81-10 v Cheetham Hill (5) 200-10
Glossop (5) 151-6 v Denton St Law (0) 149-10
Roe Green (0) 169-8 v Prestwich (4) 173-9
Thornham (5) 286-7 v Stand (0) 85-10
Woodbank (5) 69-1 v Irlam (0) 68-10
Woodhouses (5) 311-0 v Denton (0) 122-10