It has been a season like no other, for obvious reasons.
But with one league game left, the 1st team travel to Heyside CC on Saturday, knowing victory will earn them the Premier division title for the first time.
Their nearest and remaining challengers are Denton St Lawrence, who by a quirk of fate, are playing just 2 miles away at Moorside.
The last day showdown was set up after Prestwich convincingly defeated Egerton and DSL won their scheduled match and ‘Covid catch-up’ game to lie 4 points behind.
Prestwich’s batting strength again shone through as the 1sts rattled up 240 for 8, led by a top score of 60 from James Wharmby, pictured slog-sweeping the ball during his innings. Skipper Marty Walters also hit a half century (54) and Danny Pawson struck 42. All 3 players have now gone past 1,000 runs for the season in all competitions: Pawson topping 1,100.
The innings had reached 148 for 1 just past the halfway stage, but was in danger of petering out at 206 for 8, before Nathan Bailey (21 not out) and Aaryaman Roy (13 not out) added 34 useful runs in good time.
Egerton replied with some zest, keeping up with the required rate in reaching 88 for 2, but the spin combination of pro Ashar Zaidi (4 for 29) and Andy Bradley (4 for 41) put the brakes on and bowled out the visitors for 137.
The 3rd and 4th teams both chalked up thrilling wins on Sunday.
Clifton 3rds visited The Heys and racked up 214 for 7 from 40 overs. Despite 51 from Adam Taylor and 27 from George Neill-Platt, the 3rds looked second favourites at 166 for 7, but a brisk unbeaten 49-run partnership between Anees Arif (31 not out ) and Matthew Korab (23 not out) saw them home with just over two overs to spare.
The 4ths were involved in an amazing finish on their visit to Tottington St Johns.
Opener Gary Prescott hit an unbeaten century (15 fours and a six), supported by Thomas Prescott (19) and latterly Liam Potts who struck 28, as they totalled 166 for 5. After Sam Collins made 74, Tottington looked comfortably in control at 146 for 3, but Prestwich took the next 7 wickets for 16 runs to turn the game on its head, and the home side finished on 162 all out, just 3 runs short.
Potts took 5 for 24 to complete an excellent all-round performance, and Dave Eckersley 3 for 25, before Simon Jackson claimed the last crucial wicket.
The 5th team travelled to play Rainhill 3rd team and lost out narrowly by 2 wickets.
They were bowled out for 105, after being 49 for 7, but a rearguard rally from Jamal (23), Gul Safi (18) and Stuart Adams (11 not out) pushed the score into 3 figures.
Rainhill surpassed the target but lost 8 wickets in doing so, with Alistair Reed taking 2 for 18 and Sam Minor 2 for 22.
The 2nd XI had no fixture.
PRESTWICH 1XI v EGERTON GALLERY
By Leo Michaelovitz
