The 1st team overcame a rocky start to overpower Heywood in the Derek Kay Cup semi-final last Sunday with pro Nikhil Gangta smashing a superb 85.
The 44-run victory sets up a final clash with league leaders Roe Green to be played at Milnrow CC this Sunday.
Heywood, armed with former Prestwich pro Marty Walters, proved a tough nut to crack, especially after Prestwich lost 2 wickets in the very first over of the game.
Stuart Els (23) and Danny Pawson (21) started to repair the damage, but it was Gangta who took charge of the rebuilding project, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes from 91 balls to lay the foundations of victory. Supported by Jack Doyle (17), Tom Gibson (12) and latterly by Ryan Maddock (18no), a total of 197 for 9 from 45 overs seemed perfectly stable.
Gangta’s innings was his fifth half century, including one ton, and took his run total to 870 in all competitions this season.
The visitors, however, showed no fear at the start of their reply, reaching 45 without loss from the opening 10 overs. Walters was trapped l.b.w. by Andy Bradley for 23 and a flurry of wickets then took the score from 81-1 to 89 for 6 and put the ball firmly back in the Prestwich court. Despite Caleb Grant making 28, Heywood could never really recover and Nathan Bailey (3-14), Bradley (3-29) and Gangta (2-24) were instrumental in dismissing Heywood for 153.
A day earlier, Prestwich met Roe Green in the league and were soundly beaten by 88 runs (using the DLS method).
In a typically rain-affected game, Daniel Cooper (45) and Jordan Stephens (32) shared in an opening stand of 79 before Pawson made his entrance, dismissed both openers, and then the next five Roe Green batsmen – taking 7 wickets at a cost of just 30 runs. Bradley then picked up a couple of wickets (2-48) and Green finished on 163 for 9.
Pawson’s performance again showed what an influential player he is with bat or ball, and his haul took him to a Prestwich career total of 96 wickets, up from 43rd to 39th place in the records ahead of Steven Lorenzini on 93, Stewart Jump, Graham Knowles and Don Pringle on 92.
Dan Pawson took 7-30 against Roe Green.
Wharmby’s catch to aid the dismissal of Cooper was his 310th catch – his 250th as wicketkeeper.
The Prestwich re-start, however, never got out of first gear, crumbling to 82 all out, Pawson top scoring on 19. Andy Hough was the main Green wicket-taker with a haul of 5 for 13.
There was far better news for the 2nd team who posted 193 all out in their successful sojourn to Heaton 2nds. Danny Ahern was the star striker, cracking 70 off 99 balls, while Dylan Kane (13) and Andrew Beet (16) added some useful late order runs.
Uwais Khaliq then grabbed five wickets, returning 5 for 31 and Beet 3 for 15 as the home side were bowled out for 94.
Debutant Sam Baldwin cracked a scintillating 94 and Khalid Noori smashed a whirlwind 72 not out from 43 balls to spur the 3rd team to 219 for 7 away at South Manchester 3rds. Skipper Pete Lorenzini made an unbeaten 12 in a undefeated 92-run stand with Noori.
The home side were dismissed for 148 as Umar Arif returned figures of 4 for 44, Stephen Ritchie 3-21 and Noori 2 for 20.
The 4ths had a remarkably quick and decisive win at Denton St Lawrence 3rds – bowling out the opposition for just 28. Six batsmen made ducks as Ariz Sajid took 4 for 10, Anis Khaliq 2-4, Liam Potts 2-4, and Ben Pinkus 2-0.
One wicket was lost in the reply, George Neill unbeaten on 18.
The 5th team played a friendly at Kingsley CC and fell short by 43 runs.
The hosts made 125 for 8 from 35 overs (Max Sworder 2 for 8), but Prestwich faded to 82 all out with Sahil Khan (25), Nathan Goodman (24) and Hashim Salahudin (10) the main contributors.
