Prestwich beat league leaders Roe Green by 49 runs today to win the Derek Kay Cup in a pulsating game of cricket.
A magnificent innings of 136 from professional Nikhil Gangta was the heartbeat of Prestwich’s total of 246 for 7 – against rivals who had beaten them three times already this season.
Some excellent fielding, topped by a wonder catch from Andy Bradley, caused Green to falter and they were bowled out for 197.
Prestwich took to the crease first at the neutral venue of Milnrow CC, but were soon in trouble when Toby Lester struck and then Luke Williams twice more to leave Prestwich reeling at 12 for 3.
But Gangta embarked a batting masterclass, paced to perfection. He weathered the early storm, showing composure and adopting a risk-free approach, to slowly and calmly repel the Green bowling attack before upping the tempo and cracking the ball to most parts of the ground.
First Alex Bradley (15) and then Ali Raza (12) helped Gangta steady the boat, and Tom Gibson looked in fine form, hitting 26 off 32 balls, before his uppish on-drive was snapped up by Daniel Cooper off the bowling of Danny Jones.
Ryan Maddock (19no) then played the ideal supportive role in a stand of 121 in just 11 overs, as Gangta opened up with a variety of brilliant strokes, from late cuts for four to straight drives for six. He struck 136 from 108 balls, which included 12 fours and 6 sixes – an innings oozing with class and brilliance.
After Maddock struck early to trap Cooper l.b.w, Green pro Hanno Kotze and Jordan Stephens steered the score past the 100-mark without major alarm. That was until Kotze reached 58 and batting commandingly, top-edged a sweep off Gangta to the short fine leg area which looked to be looping beyond the reach of Bradley. He leapt and arched backwards to clutch the ball one-handed and take an astonishing catch.
Still though, at 138 for 2, the game was delicately balanced before Uwais Khaliq (2 for 44) got the reward he deserved and forced Stephens to drill the ball to Gibson for 48.
That started a regular flow of wickets, in which captain James Wharmby was rarely out of the action. He took an excellent legside catch to dismiss Luke Williams off Khaliq, and was instrumental in the run outs of Luke Norris and Lester. He also stumped Joe Gatenby-Brown, off Nathan Bailey, the last of the frontline batsman for 37.
Gangta showed no signs of fatigue and bowled a superb line and length to return figures of 1 for 20 off 7 overs which helped stem any run surge.
Fittingly, it was Gangta’s throw to Bailey who threw down the stumps to run out Harrison Prill which sparked the victory celebrations.
* Huge credit to Milnrow CC who were excellent hosts for the final.
Here’s the photos from the trophy presentation. We’ll post the match photos in a seperate article.
