PRESTWICH’S commanding lead at the top the Lancashire County League will be seriously tested when the table toppers travel to second-placed Denton West on Saturday, according to captain Andy Bradley.
The Heys men enjoyed another successful weekend, progressing in the Lancashire Knockout with a six-wicket win at Glodwick (pictured) and claiming their ninth league success on the bounce with a comfortable 162-run victory against Stand.
The win over their local rivals moved the leaders 13 points clear at the top following Denton West’s defeat to Woodbank. But with their title rivals having played a game less, Bradley admits Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at Windsor Park may go some way to deciding this year’s champions.
“It’s a massive game,” he said.
“They are normally tight and competitive matches so we are expecting much of the same but we’ll be going all out to get the victory.
“It’s still early days but if we could win it, it will put a pretty big gap between first and second place.”
For the second consecutive week, Sam Holden and Ryan Stanbury led with the bat hitting 76 and 48 respectively as Prestwich notched up 241-7 at Stand.
And although pleased with the overall team performance it was the display of lower order batsmen Tom Gibson (23), Tom Scott (25) and Haris Aziz (21 not out) that impressed Bradley the most, with the Prestwich skipper believing their contribution to be a sign of how good his side have become.
Wilf Reeve was the pick of the visiting bowlers taking 4-39 as the hosts could only muster 79 in reply.
“It was total domination from start to finish,” said Bradley.
“They were never in the game.
“We just batted superbly and then bowled them out cheaply.
“The team performance was really good but I was particularly pleased with the batting performances down the order.
“The sixth, seventh and eighth bat of Gibson, Scott and Aziz came in and got runs into the twenties, which was great.
“Wilf bowled nice and tight and got his reward.”
A century from usual seventh batsman Michael Hudson and 76 from professional Marty Walters helped chase down Glodwick’s massive total of 258 in the Lancashire Knockout on Sunday.
The duo were again supported by unbeaten Gibson (25) and Scott (12) as Prestwich set up a quarter-final tie with Heywood with victory. Bradley was the pick of the Prestwich bowlers taking 4-48.
And the captain believes the win, with one ball remaining, was one of the best games he had played in.
“We found it difficult at first, playing on a quirky ground with a pronounced slope, but we showed how great the spirit is in the team.
“We were chasing a massive total and last year we probably wouldn’t have dreamed of getting it but we ended up doing it in the last over with just one ball left. It was brilliant.
“It was up there with one of the best games I’ve played in.
“Hudson and Walters were both superb while Scott was calm and played superbly from his four or five balls. Gibson also had another good day with the bat.”
In another double header of fixtures, Prestwich play Woodhouses in the quarter finals of the Walkden Cup on Sunday.
“We beat them earlier in the season in the league but they made if tough for us to get the five points,” said Bradley.
“I’m expecting them to put up a fight and turn around what happened in the league.”
