Prestwich’s superb unbeaten start to the season continued at weekend with league and cup progress, bowling their opposition out for less than 100 on both days.
Saturday’s league visit of mid table Thornham brought another early innings wobble with both Ryan Stanbury and Martin Walters heading back up the steps with only eight runs on the board.
Don't know why we even bother tossing up anymore! Skipper loses 9th from 9 and we are batting first v @thornhamcc
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) May 23, 2015
A difficult pitch at The Heys made progress tough and with the score on just 80 with the loss of four wickets at drinks, the batsmen needed to step on the accelerator.
Ali Raza continued his personal good form and his 91 helped Prestwich reach a defendable total of 174, all out in the 45th over.
1XI 163-5 with 10 overs left. @ali_raza31 out for a quite brilliant 91.
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) May 23, 2015
Thornham’s chase didn’t start well with Irfan getting trapped LBW by Sam Holden in the second over.
A brief recovery was halted when opener Micklethwaite was caught by Tom Scott off Stanbury’s bowling with the score on 30 and a steady stream of wickets fell thereafter.
Stanbury recorded his first Prestwich ‘5-for’, finishing with figures of 6-25 while Bradley notched up his 100th catch for the club as the visitors were bowled out for just 67.
Awesome grab by @squeeky170 today. pic.twitter.com/pOMDbdFvtK
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) May 23, 2015
On Sunday, it was the return of Lancashire Knock-Out Cup action with a trip to Ribblesdale Wanderers of the Ribblesdale League for their first round tie.
Stephen Ritchie made his Prestwich first team debut and watched on as the hosts were swept aside inside 29 overs for just 81 runs.
1XI bowl @ribbwanderers out for 81. @tommyscott11 superb with 4-23 @Marty33Walters 3-22 @SamHolden2 2-18 & a top @tomgibson9 runout.
— Prestwich CTBC (@PrestwichSport) May 24, 2015
Walters (41) and Holden (18) saw Prestwich over the line without too much drama, finishing on 84-2 off 18.2 overs to set up a Second Round tie at Glodwick on June 14th.
