Leave has certainly been the buzzword in the past week.
Prestwich had definitely wanted to remain unbeaten in the league – but a dramatic late swing forced them to leave that ambition behind.
The loss of five wickets within the final two overs of their game against nearest rivals Egerton left them one run short of the target.
To compound their misery, they then found themselves making an exit out of the GMCL Cup at Heywood on Sunday after a high-scoring bowl-out.
This was not before the Heys side had assembled 203 for 8, championed by a magnificent unbeaten century from Marty Walters. Yet ultimately, it was to no avail.
Saturday’s visit to picturesque Egerton saw Prestwich battle worthily to contain the home side to a score of 169 all out.
On a slow, lowish track, Wilf Reeve had made the perfect start, taking a caught and bowled off his first ball to dismiss Tom Fairclough. He then took a smart catch at wide mid-on, off the bowling of Sam Holden, to see the back of pro Weerakkody for 10.
But a partnership between captain Will Halton and Ranasinghe started to prosper until a mix-up trying to take a two to Ali Raza resulted in Mike Finan scampering down to the non-striker’s end to run out Ranasinghe, who was by then stranded at the same end as Halton, for a top-scoring 28.
Wickets fell intermittently but it was also telling that eight of the Egerton batsmen got into double figures, indicative of some tight bowling and the fact it was a pitch where graft came before grace.
A stubborn last wicket partnership gave the home side a welcome late surge before Walters picked up Finch’s wicket from the last ball of the innings. Skipper Andy Bradley was the standout pick of the Prestwich attack, taking 4 for 39 from his 15 overs.
Prestwich were in control of the game’s destiny in their second innings – apart from when it counted.
James Wharmby and Walters had negotiated their way through a mainly-spin attack and were going well at 58 for 1 until Walters was bowled by Halton for 23. Joined by Holden, Wharmby made a hard-working 41 before falling with the score on 93, and Prestwich still held all the aces.
Holden clocked up another half century, certainly his most studious of the season, punctuated by the fact he hit no fours, but two sixes.
He was claimed by former Prestwich pro Amal Dalugoda for 54, but even then, with 21 runs required, no alarm bells were sounding.
With five wickets left, five runs needed, and 12 balls remaining, Prestwich were huge favourites, but what happened next defines the game of cricket and its unpredictability, as Egerton built up the pressure and bowled a no-nonsense tight line. It worked.
Left arm quickie Adam Street (5 for 42) took three wickets in the penultimate over, the key victim being Tom Gibson off his last ball, for a typically gritty 26. It appeared he had struck the winning shot until his lofted off drive was spectacularly plucked out of the air by the tumbling Marcus Pratt.
Dalugoda bowled the last over, with Prestwich needing two runs for victory, and he castled Reeve first ball. When Bradley tried to scamper a risky run off the fourth delivery, Finan was comfortably run out, and a remarkable turnaround was complete.
Sunday’s cup tie against Heywood saw Prestwich rack up an imposing total of 203 for 8. But they had been in a spot of bother at 48 for 4, after Simon Dawson took three early wickets.
But Walters then reigned supreme, supported by the dependable Gibson. They staged an 113-run partnership, with some excellent running. Walters struck 11 boundaries and finished unbeaten on 112 from 143 balls.
However, the forecasted rain arrived and washed out any chance of the home side even starting their reply, reducing the game to a bowl-out.
Although Holden and Gibson hit the wickets for Prestwich, Heywood clattered the stumps an amazing six times to win through to the next round – as well as probably earning a ban from any fairground coconut shy.
With the season at its halfway mark, Prestwich hold a four-point lead in the Premier Division over Egerton, and will be looking to put last weekend’s misfortunes behind them, with a trip to Flixton on Saturday.
Pic: Egerton CC Twitter @EGERTON_CC
