Prestwich kept their hopes of cup success alive last weekend when the 1st and 2nd teams both won their knockout ties while Prestwich Heat also qualified for the T20 quarter-finals as top of their group.
It now means the 1sts, 2nds, 3rds and 4ths are all in cup action this Sunday.
The cherry was placed on last weekend’s cake when the 1sts jumped to the top of the GMCL premier league with a comfortable win over 2019 champions Denton St Lawrence.
It all started in quite unlikely fashion when Heat’s T20 clash with Bury Bullsharks last Friday night saw Heat wilting in pursuit of a total of 129 all out (Nathan Bailey 3-25, Andy Bradley 3-30, Uwais Khaliq 2-31). With barely 5 overs left, they had slumped to 83 for 7 before Lewis Smith (26 not out ) and Ryan Maddock (14 not out) turned the game on its head and won with 2 balls to spare.
Saturday’s encounter away at DSL is always one of the toughest, but a magnificent bowling performance routed the hosts for 103. Maddock took 4 for 38, Khaliq 2 for 32 and Bailey 2 for 33 from 15 overs – taking his total to 40 wickets in all competitions this season. Danny Pawson’s unbeaten 57 guided the side to an eight-wicket win, making him the first to reach 600 runs in all competitions.
On Sunday, the 1sts travelled to Royton in the Derek Kay 1st XI Cup and the bowlers again took centre stage Pro Shivam Chauhan (pictured) grabbed 5 for 20, with Bailey and Khaliq taking two wickets each as the Oldham side were dismissed for 114. The only immoveable batsman was former Lancashire player Luke Procter who struck an unbeaten 73. Prestwich lost 5 wickets in reaching the target, Chauhan hitting 43 and Aaryaman Roy 25 not out.
The 2nd XI entertained Werneth 2nds in the 2nd XI cup on Sunday and registered a 99-run victory.
Adam Cheshire top scored with 52, supported by 36 from Jack O’Brien, 23 from Steven Lorenzini and 22 from Dylan Kane to amass a score of 210 for 9. The visitors were bowled out for 111, as Cheshire took 3 for 25, Charlie Jackson 2 for 9, Khalid Noori 2-18 and Muhammad Arif 2-34.
The 2nd XI’s league match against division leaders Tottington St John’s 1sts did not fare as well, as the Bury side bowled the hosts out for 132 (Nick Carter 28, Thomas Orrell 27, Lorenzini 22), and had no hiccups in passing the target for the loss of just two wickets.
The 3rd XI continued their excellent league form with an eight wicket defeat of second-placed Edgworth 3rds.
An opening blast of 3 for 6 from Sam Staley and Finlay Lester’s 3 for 48 helped to restrict the home side to 152 for 8. Lester then completed a fine all-round performance hitting 54, while Adam Taylor top scored with 60.
The 4th XI fell to defeat against Swinton Moorside 3rds after reaching 154 for 7 (Shaheryar Khan 39, Sam Regan 33). Dave Eckersley took 3 for 22 and Anis Khaliq 2-39, but Swinton passed the target with 4 wickets in hand.
The 5th team faced Mottram 3rds in a friendly and lost by 5 wickets, being bowled out for 115. Jake Wain top scored with 17.
DSL v PRESTWICH GALLERY
ROYTON v PRESTWICH GALLERY
