A WEEKEND double whammy has put Prestwich firmly in the league title hunt. Captain Steven Lorenzini played an innings befitting the role to overcome a tricky away venture to Flowery Field, followed by a hard-fought victory over fellow high-flyers Glossop.
The Heys side had to dig themselves out of a big hole on more than one occasion last Saturday as Flowery blossomed, then wilted, for 146.
Opener Neil Mistry struck 57 and just three wickets had been lost when the home total turned 100.
But a devastating second spell from professional Danny Jones ripped the heart out of the Flowery innings.
He claimed six wickets at a cost of four runs, and was twice on a hat-trick, to finishing with 6 for 26.
But in reply, Prestwich found themselves knee deep in the mire at 30 for 4 as the Flowery attack of Steve Oddy and Glen Middleton weeded out two wickets apiece.
But Lorenzini led from the front in tandem with teenager James Wharmby and they started digging their side out of the trench with an excellent 68-run partnership.
However, Wharmby’s dismissal for 31 was immediately followed by Chris Thomas, both caught by Flowery wicketkeeper and former Prestwich player Gareth Barnes.
Barnes made it a hat-trick of catches as he again combined with Oddy to grab Lorenzini’s wicket for a gritty 47, and there was still work to be done with the score on 129 for 7.
Elliott Woodage (15 not out), making his debut innings, and Tom Gibson (11 not out), settled the away nerves by each hitting a couple of boundaries in a vital stand to see Prestwich reach the target with three wickets to spare.
Oddy was the outstanding Flowery bowler, taking 5 for 44 off 26 overs in which a bad ball was a rarity.
A rain-delayed start to Sunday’s home clash with Glossop meant it was reduced to a 33-over contest and, not for the first time, the home side pegged back the opposition after they had got off to a solid start.
Dangermen Dale Pennington (25) and pro Batiya Perera (32) made bright starts but were both halted in their tracks as Danny Jones (4 for 59) and Andy Bradley (4 for 53) bowled unbroken.
Bradley’s haul followed a lengthy 21-over stint the day before which earned him 3 for 56. However, his fourth wicket on the Sunday was notable for the fact it took him to a career total of 750 wickets.
Glossop posted a total of 126 for 8, which didn’t appear too imposing until the Glossop opening attack of Usher and Moss suddenly started to squeeze extra bounce out of the pitch.
However, Steve Orrell continued in his rich vein of form with 54 – his fourth half century of the season – and again formed a valuable partnership with Matt Wiley, who made a well-struck 35.
Prestwich timed the reply well as a couple of boundaries from Sam Holden (17 not out) helped the Heys men cross the finishing line with an over to spare.
The side now lies in second place in the Lees Lancashire County League, and face one of their biggest games of the season on Saturday, away to last year’s champions Denton West.
• On Monday, Prestwich looked to retain their Quality Save T20 crown at Roe Green’s Greenleach Lane Ground. Bad weather scuppered the planned 10:30am start meaning the two semi-final matches were reduced to ten overs each.
Prestwich overcame Winton’s 69 for 7, which included the catch of the day from Tom Gibson, as a Danny Jones 49 helped his side in to the final with 5 balls to spare.
But fellow finalists Swinton Moorside’s 100 for 5 proved just out of reach for Steven Lorenzini’s men. In a reduced 15 over game, Prestwich danger men Jones and Matt Wiley returned without troubling the scorers. Only Chris Thomas, Lorenzini and James Wharmby managed double figures as the Heys Road team were bowled out for 81 in the last over.
