A last-day victory over Flowery Field by 153 runs failed to save the 1st team from the drop.
Egerton’s equally comfortable win over DSL meant Prestwich remained 3rd from bottom – the last relegation spot in the Premier Division.
Prestwich made a total of 228 for 5, cemented by a stand of 118 runs for the fourth wicket between Stuart Els (above), who cracked a superb 97, and James Wharmby with an excellent 61, while pro Chirag Khurama had earlier made 33. Flowery were dismissed for 75, Ryan Maddock taking 5 for 42 and Nathan Bailey 4 for 25. This was Maddock’s 9th five-wicket haul for the club and took him to 60 wickets for the season.
The 2nd team also dropped a division following their narrow two-wicket defeat at home to Darcy Lever 1sts.
Having only posted a target of 76, they fought back tenaciously, with Andrew Beet taking 5 for 19, to peg the Bolton side back to 54 for 8, but they could not just wiggle out the last wickets.
The 3rd team secured runners-up spot in the Sunday Premier League with a 64-run victory over Roe Green 3rds, thanks to a brilliant innings of 95 from Charlie Jackson.
The youngster hit 13 fours and 2 sixes off 93 balls before falling agonisingly short of three figures.
Jackson then took 2 for 14, Thomas Orrell 4 for 16 and Stephen Ritchie 2 for 39 to dismiss the visitors for 140, for whom Jacob Prill had earlier taken 5 for 37.
The 3rds finish off their season at home to champions-elect Whalley Range 3rds on Saturday.
The 4th team suffered an agonising defeat to rivals Ashton 3rds – losing by a single run.
Ashton made 151 for 6, with Ariz Sajid (3-31) and Anis Khaliq (2-24) the pick of the bowlers.
Opener James Mercer hit a fine 55, but the last five Prestwich wickets fell for 26 runs, as Mattin Manuwar took for 6 for 25.
The league title is now out of reach but the 4ths hope to obtain a high finish with games away at Whalley Range 4ths on Saturday and their final match on Sunday at Ashton Ladysmith.
The 5th team enjoyed a 10-run success in a 30-over friendly match at Port Sunlight on Sunday.
They set a target of 119 (Mike Orrell 16, Chris Heys 15), before dismissing the opposition for 109, led by Orrell, who completed a good all-round performance with 3 for 15, and Hasnain Imran 2 for 9. Some excellent fielding was key to the victory, Nathan Goodman taking two catches and also taking off the bails from a Richard Hatchett throw to run out the last batsman.
