There were some outstanding performances from Prestwich players last weekend, a list topped by combined figures of 14-72 from Nico Van Zyl and 142 runs from Stuart Els.
A large chunk of the Pro’s wickets came in Prestwich 1XI’s defeat of Moorside in the league at Heys Road on Saturday.
That win wasn’t all plain sailing though as the home side found themselves in a spot of bother at 119-8, which included a half-century for in-form Stuart Els (52).
But the bowlers came to the rescue with Ryan Maddock (20*), Andy Bradley (20) and Charlie Jackson (13) scoring late vital runs that allowed James Wharmby’s team to post a competitive 180 when they were bowled out in the penultimate over.
But if we’re talking about vital contributions from the bowlers then there’s one person at the very top of that list, professional Nico Van Zyl.
Moorside’s reply got off to a fair start but when Van Zyl trapped Anchor with the last ball of the 7th over, Boates with the first ball of the 9th and then clean bowled Khan 6 deliveries later, the visitors were all of a sudden 3 down for just 37 runs.
Shekleton hung around for a short while before becoming the South African’s fourth scalp, but that signalled a recovery for the Oldham side as they reached 100 without any further damage.
That was until Van Zyl burst back into life with 3 wickets in 4 balls, including catches for sub-keeper Els and Nathan Bailey, which left Moorside struggling at 106-7.
His seventh wicket also brought a new bowling record for the club at home to Moorside, Bailey’s 6-23 the previous best back in 2022.
Seven down soon became eight as Jackson got in on the action when Sam Kershaw caught Barakzai.
Another lbw brought the pro’s eighth wicket before Bailey wrapped things up by bowling Warburton as Prestwich took the five points that moves them up to second in Premier 2.
Nico Van Zyl celebrates another wicket against Moorisde.
On Sunday the Lancashire Knock-Out took centre stage with Heaton the visitors for this second round match-up.
Professional Nico Van Zyl picked up from where he left off the day before taking another 4 wickets for just 13 runs from his 8 overs bowled.
Charlie Jackson grabbed a couple of wickets with singles for Nathan Bailey, Andy Bradley and Tom Gibson as Heaton were back in the clubhouse for just 100.
Another to pick up where he left off was Stuart Els who followed up Saturday’s half century with a 51 here. He was well supported by Gibson (30*) but the pairing was eventually broken 13 runs short of the revised 98 run target.
Sam Kershaw sent his first ball faced to the boundary before Gibson ended the contest in the 18th over.
The win sets up a home quarter final tie with Little Lever on a date to be arranged.
The Thirds and Fourths were also in action on Sunday in their respective cup competitions.
Only a handful of overs were played for Prestwich 3XI at Roe Green and, after a delayed start, with the visitors at 25-1 the on and off rain was finally too much and a bowl-out was to settle the outcome.
Hits for Finlay Lester and Karl West ensured Nick Carter’s team progressed through to the next round 2-0.
No such joy for the Fourth Team though who made the short trip to neighbours Stand in the Sunday Plate but unfortunatley suffered an 8 wicket defeat.
Back to Saturday and Prestwich 2XI enjoyed an 87 run win at Oldham that moved them up to second place in their division.
Skipper Dylan Kane’s unbeaten 51 and Jack Doyle’s 49 the highlights of the Prestwich innings before Wilf Reeve’s 6-30 helped restrict the home side to just 62 all out in reply.
But it was the Seconds in their T20 guise that kicked eveything off last Thursday when Prestwich Patriots hosted Milnrow Rams and played out a high scoring 37 run win.
Batting first, Thomas Orrell was not hanging around with a 24 ball half century before going on to score 80 which included 6 fours and 6 sixes.
He was supported well by Jack Doyle (20) and the returning Dan Ahern (24) before a big hitting 7 ball cameo from Hassnain Ashfaq (22) along with vital late runs from Matthew Cuthbert and Andy Beet help set the visitors a substantial target of 190 to win.
Milnrow actually made a decent fist of the chase but couldn’t get ahead at any stage and closed out their 20 overs on 152 for the loss of 6 wickets.
Thomas Orrell clears the rope again for the Patriots on Thursday.
The following evening it was the turn of Prestwich Heat as they made it four from four in their T20 group thanks to a steady 8 wicket win over Walshaw Warriors.
With pairs of wickets for Tom Gibson, Nico Van Zyl, Nathan Bailey and Sam Kershaw, with one for Andy Bradley, a 34 run stand for the third wicket was about as good as it got for the visitors who were all out in the final over for 107.
Stuart Els (39*) and Skipper James Wharmby (36) went about the Prestwich reply without fanfare as the temperature dropped, the light disappeared and the rains came down.
Professional Van Zyl (9*) found a boundary to seal the 3 points.
Stuart Els surpassed 1000 runs for the club since joining us from Moorside last year.
And finally back on Sunday the Fifth Team made their annual trip to Port Sunlight and completed a 30 over game just before the rain started.
Bowling first Richard Hatchett’s tourists used 10 bowlers with a wicket apiece for 7 of them. Josh Silver got a wicket on his senior debut as did Alex Woolf on his Prestwich debut.
Emal Mayakhail impressed again and dislodged the oppositions strongest batsman Henry Jones who had scored 59.
Gary Hershcovitch took a contender for catch of the season off Louie Avenessian with a high one handed grab.
Chasing 155 was a challenge and with the 5s losing wickets regularly they were behind the rate most of their innings while facing some good accurate bowling.
Gary Hershcovitch top scored with 23, Richard Hatchett 22, Tim Compton and Anwar Khan with 12 each were the only batters to reach double figures.
Whilst it was the team’s first loss of the season it was a game played in great spirit with lots of young players on both sides enjoying the chance to develop in a senior game.
