CHAMPIONS Denton West were put to the sword by a swashbuckling Prestwich performance by five wickets.
The hard-fought victory was ultimately achieved with some panache after the third-placed hosts set the Heys men a 202-run target.
But a fine 69 from pro Danny Jones and a superbly measured 45 not out from skipper Steven Lorenzini was the bedrock of another admirable team display.
Yet, the omens were far from promising when pro Jones sent down four full tosses in the first over of the game – two of which were despatched to the boundary – and the classy Lee Dale boomed two sixes out of Windsor Park off Andy Bradley.
But despite the propensity for striking the boundary boards and beyond, there were few singles inbetween, and Jones and Bradley kept the run rate in check.
Jones bowled West skipper Gareth Senior for 9, but Dale was stroking the ball quite majestically and dominated the run-scoring in a 59-run stand with Paul Turner.
He cracked 57 before Chris Jones found the key to unlock his wicket, tempting him into a firm drive and Sam Holden took a well-judged catch on the long-on boundary.
It was hard toil for the Heys bowlers but Bradley again put in another stamina-sapping 25-over stint and spinner Jones put the shackles on the run rate, taking 1 for 34 off 11 overs.
Turner was bowled for 21, as Bradley got back in the wickets column while Mike Berry biffed 41 before he was caught, again by Holden in the deep.
Barnett made 19 and O’Brien 23, and in the expected late scamper for runs, West managed to breach the 200-mark for the loss of nine wickets.
Danny Jones returned 3 for 57 and Bradley 4 for 101.
Prestwich suffered the loss of Steve Orrell for 1 with the score on 18 but Danny Jones and Matt Wiley staged a 56-run partnership before Wiley mistimed an on-drive was caught by Dave Morrell for 24.
Jones struck 13 boundaries in his 95-ball stay, offering a caught and bowled opportunity gratefully snapped up by spinner Barnett with the score on 106 for 3.
The run tempo was always in the vicinity of the required rate and Sam Holden batted solidly before getting a leading edge for 21, caught by O’Brien off the bowling of Jordan Williams. Williams struck again the next ball as James Wharmby fell l.b.w and, with the score on 132 for 5, the game was finely balanced.
In the past couple of seasons, such a situation has seen the visitors come up short, but the iron resolve the side has shown this season came to the fore again.
Skipper Lorenzini and Chris Thomas embarked on a pivotal partnership, with the captain continuing his fine form, carving out six fours in his unbeaten innings, falling five runs short of a deserved half century.
Thomas proved the ideal partner, stroking three fours in an untroubled 25 not out and the pair shared an unbroken stand of 71.
A close finish had looked on the cards, but such was their dominance in the latter overs, the winning run – courtesy of a wide – came with 17 balls still left in the locker.
Prestwich, who retained second position in the Lees Lancashire County League, play host to Irlam on Saturday.
* A century from Luke O’Brien for Prestwich’s 2nd team was not enough to overhaul a huge 283 run total amassed by Denton West 2nds, and they finished on 258 for 7.
