Unbeaten league leaders Woodbank were toppled by a determined Prestwich display. They ran out 58-run winners in a keenly contested game in front of a decent crowd at The Heys last Saturday.

Prestwich professional Danny Jones scored an excellent 75 in his side’s par total of 198, before spinner Andy Bradley struck with a seven-timer to help dismiss the visitors for 140.

Simon Read was the standout performer for Woodbank, taking 6 for 60 in an unbroken 23-over spell.

Prestwich made an fine start with Jones and James Wharmby staging an 82-run opening partnership at a healthy scoring rate.

Wharmby made a solid 31, cracking six fours, before he was the first of Read’s six victims.

The previous week’s record runmaker Matt Wiley made just 10, getting a bottom edge on an attempted pull shot from Read, onto his stumps.

A total beyond 200 looked achievable with Jones and Sam Holden at the wicket, and the score showing 139 for 2.

Woodbank had also lost the services of experienced veteran Mark Stringer, who dislocated a shoulder as he dived to stop a sinlge off his own bowling.

But a risky two by Jones saw him run out by a direct throw from Nawaz, ending an innings containing nine boundaries and one six.

Holden was l.b.w. for 28 shortly afterwards, and Prestwich lost wickets at regular intervals as they strived to maintain the strike-rate, but only Chris Thomas (14) made it into double figures.

Bradley struck twice to dismiss Steve Dearden, and son Harry, with 43 on the board, but not for the first time, a run out proved the Achilles heel for an in-form batsman.

Opener Brett Collins had made a blustery 32 when he attempted a second run to the arm of Chris Thomas on the deep extra cover boundary, and failed to make his ground.

With Nick Haynes and Kennedy taking the score to 90 for 3, the game was well in the balance, but after a switch of bowling ends, Kennedy then unluckily saw the ball cannon of his bat onto his stumps from Jones for 10.

Bradley, now at the tennis court end, sent down three aces to dismiss Read for 2, Hamnett for 12 and Haynes for 22 as the hosts gained the upper hand. He finished with 7 for 56.

A typical flurry from Woodbank skipper John Chapman (16 not out) was not enough to avert defeat, as Woodbank ended on nine wickets down, with Stringer unable to bat through injury.

The result saw Denton St Lawrence leapfrog to the head of the Lees Lancashire County League table, to whom Prestwich pay a visit on Saturday.

Prestwich are also in Walkden Cup action on Sunday, with a first round home tie against Thornham.

* Prestwich suffered a first-round Lancashire Cup knockout on Sunday with a seven-wicket defeat by Northern League side Netherfield. Prestwich’s 201 total, with Wharmby making a half century, proved insufficient as the visitors comfortably overhauled the target for the loss of three wickets.

* Prestwich 2nd XI turned in a miserable showing at Woodbank, losing by 71 runs.

Prestwich Cricket Club will be hosting another Junior Coaching Camp following on from the success of last years event. Taking place over the 6th and 7th June, the camp caters for players aged 9 to 17 years and will be run by ex-Prestwich Pro’ Amal Dalugoda amongst others.

JUNIOR COACHING CAMP

6th and 7th June 2012
10am to 3pm

£10 per day

Age 9 – 17 years
(Maximum 30 players)

4 coaches, all level 2 or 3

SPINNERS
FAST/MEDIUM BOWLING
BATTING
WICKET KEEPING

To book contact Brian Lorenzini on 07850 947 534.

Bring your own lunch and drinks.

Prestwich turned record-breakers on Sunday when they racked up the highest-ever league total of 448 – and batsman Matt Wiley smashed the individual record with 229.

Professional Danny Jones also blasted a century as the Heys side went run crazy against a beleaguered Irlam side.

Like the proverbial bear with the sore head, following a derby defeat against Stand 24 hours earlier, Prestwich were keen to make amends at The Heys.

Wiley led the charge with a remarkable 22 fours and 16 sixes. His innings beat the score of 226 not out by Ryan Nurse, for Denton St Lawrence, and his double century also came in the quickest time, off 115 balls compared to Nurse’s 123 deliveries. It took Wiley just 15 balls to race from 150 to 200.

Earlier, Jones had been the first to clock up three figures – his first ton for the club – in a stand of 198 with Wiley. Jones himself cracked 10 boundaries and six sixes in his 88-ball innings before he was superbly caught by a sprawling Afzal running back from mid-on.

Wiley rode his luck on a couple of occasions, before Thomas eventually claimed his scalp by bowling him for 229, made off 128 balls, and he left the field to a worthy reception.

Skipper Steven Lorenzini (25) and Oliver Holt (18) had given sensible support as Prestwich finished on 448 for 6 at the end of 50-over allocation, beating the previous highest set by Denton St Lawrence of 401 for 1.

Facing such a towering task, Irlam responded positively but wickets started to fall at regular intervals. A competent catch in the deep by Jones gave Andy Bradley the first of his five victims to dismiss Quinn for 17 to make the breakthrough with the total on 24.

Jones plundered two wickets, both assisted by the hands of Sam Holden, but Irlam sklipper Matt Hood showed admirable resistance, making a run-a-ball 50 until Elliot Woodage took a well-judged catch from a flat-batted pull, off Bradley’s bowling, to make the score 99 for 5.

Stuart Hilton cracked three boundaries late on, but Bradley completed his five-wicket haul to finish on 5 for 51, and fellow slowie Woodage also grabbed a couple of wickets (2 for 19) to dismiss the visitors for 133 and afford Prestwich a victory margin of 315 runs.

Prestwich, the current title holders, face a crucial early-season showdown on Saturday when they play host to league pacesetters Woodbank.

On Sunday, they welcome Netherfield in the first round of the Lancashire Cup.

Report from the Stand game on Saturday:

A lack-lustre performance left Stand to “stand tall” in the battle of the neighbours last Saturday.

Prestwich made the short trip to Hamilton Road, but failed to reach the 192-run target, casting 80 runs adrift.

Even without pro Danny Jones through work commitments and with Prestwich experiencing the worst of a deteriorating wicket, Stand were the better side on the day.

Prestwich struck an early blow when they dismissed Stand’s Aussie pro Brett Ernst for 8, caught by the tumbling Steve Orrell at square leg from a Oliver Holt delivery.

But the visitors found wickets hard to come by, as Dave Taylor typically got in the runs, and opener Chris Holt batted solidly, taking the score to 74.

Sam Holden struck, having Holt trapped l.b.w. for 29, and Taylor was bowled for 31 by Elliot Woodage.

But the experienced Stuart Catterall made a vital mid-innings contribution of 42, ensuring his team transcended well beyond the 150-run mark – and it was only a rare misjudgement – attempting to run two to the arm of Chris Thomas – proved his downfall.

Former Prestwich player Peter Walters cracked a fine straight six, but otherwise struggled and was caught by Thomas for 9, and Scott Butterworth (12) popped a catch back to give Tom Gibson reward.

Bradley picked up three wickets to stop any late onslaught and finish with figures of 4 for 64 from 20 overs.

A telling statistic was the number of extras – a joint top score with Catterall of 42 – as the new automatic legside wides rule cost Prestwich dear.

Opener Steve Orrell cracked a four and six in the first over as Prestwich’s reply started brightly.

But he was caught by Carl Sutcliffe at slip for 10 off Butterworth, who gained his second scalp when he bowled Matt Wiley for 6, without a shot being offered.

The mire got deeper for the visitors as Holden got a leading edge to give Catterall a catch, and skipper Steven Lorenzini became Butterworth’s fourth victim with the unplayable ball of the day. He was l.b.w. to ball which pee-rolled – in the true sense of the word – from well short of a length.

From 27 for 4, Holt (12) and Gibson (13) gave some support to James Wharmby, who carried on from the previous week, with an innings of steadfast determination, lasting two hours and 10 minutes.

He was the last man to fall for a gritty 43 for an ‘all out’ total of 112, leaving Butterworth (5 for 44) and Catterall (3 for 15) to claim Stand’s bowling plaudits.

* Prestwich 2XI enjoyed a full ten point winning weekend with a 17 run win over Stand on Saturday followed by an 8 wicket win at Irlam the next day.

Match Photo’s – Prestwich 2XI v Stand

A BRILLIANT innings of 92 from teenager James Wharmby guided Prestwich to a four-wicket triumph.

The youngster took the Heys side to the verge of victory as they hunted down Denton’s total of 177.

With the scores level, he was denied unbeaten status when he was outdone by a low-bouncing delivery.

But it was a excellent day all round for the 18-year-old as he also played a crucial part in the dismissal of Dutch international Michael Swart.

The Denton professional had made a forceful 28 when the diving Wharmby clasped onto a steepling catch on the square leg boundary to give Andy Bradley his first wicket of the new campaign.

The home side found wickets hard to come by as Martin Leach (28) Jamie Garde (39) helped take the score to 126 for 3.

But persistence from Prestwich pro Danny Jones, off a shortened run, paid off as he bowled Leach and had Muhammad caught by Tom Gibson, before he was also responsible for a direct hit to put an end to Garde’s stay.

Oliver Holt was introduced into the attack and made three quick strikes into the Denton middle order for a return of 3 for 37, but a score of around 200 was still viable, before Jones returned to the attack and ended a spritely innings of 40 from Karl Taylor.

He then uprooted the stumps of tailenders Holmes and Addison to curtail their innings at 177, finishing with a commendable 5 for 46 off 16.3 overs.

The Prestwich reply was solid with openers Jones and Wharmby passing 50 with few alarms, before Swart had his opposing number l.b.w. for 23.

Wharmby and Matt Wiley flourished with a partnership of 88, Wiley thrice putting the ball into the boundary trees.

Wharmby gave the short ball short shrift, also striking three sixes in his innings lasting 160 balls, and two-and-a-half hours at the crease.

The stand was broken when Wiley slipped up as he called for a quick single and was run out for 37.

A trio of quick wickets followed as Sam Holden, dropped once at deep square leg, repeated the dose and was caught second time round, while Steven Lorenzini was run out, and Holt well caught at mid-wicket. But the wobble was only minor as Wharmby and Chris Thomas cracked a couple of boundaries each.

Thomas was on hand to dab home the winning single to give Prestwich a maximum five-point haul and get their season rolling, following the abandonment of their first two Lees Lancashire County League games.

Prestwich face a trip to local rivals Stand on Saturday, before hosting Irlam on Sunday.

* Despite a six-wicket haul by Damon Montgomery, Prestwich 2nd XI managed only 84 in pursuit of a 141-run target at Denton 2nds.

Match Photo’s - Prestwich 1XI v Denton

THE only game Prestwich played last weekend was one of “frustration”.

The reigning league champions had been hoping to kick off their defence of the Lees Lancashire County title with a bang.

But the only strokes on show would have been the breaststroke or backstroke.

The Heys ground was waterlogged last Saturday for the visit of Flowery Field while it was the same outcome when the first team travelled to Denton West on Sunday.

The second team also failed to bowl a ball.

Prestwich 1st team hope to make a belated start to their league season on Saturday at home to Denton, whose professional Michael Swart plays for Holland.

• Full fixtures, results and performances from arond the league can be viewed here: http://www.lancscl.co.uk/Index.do?league=771408402

Prestwich Cricket Club are looking for a sponsor for our August Bank Holiday T20 event. The cost is £1000. As always the plan for the day includes raffles and the profits are split with McMillan Nurses.

If you know of anybody who might be interested or you can sponsor it yourself please contact Brian Lorenzini on 07850 947 534.

We have had two marvellous events to date which have been covered by Nat West (their UK showcase event in 2010) won by Unsworth CC and Mercedes-Benz Whitefield which was won by Prestwich last season.

On the day we have many other sporting events on eg Crown Green Bowling Pairs Competition and a Tennis Tournament supported by a quality BBQ.

CAN YOU HELP????

PRESTWICH’S pipe-opener smouldered into an early-evening thriller when they beat Little Lever by six runs in the National Knockout Cup.

Sam Holden smoked a run-a-ball half century while spinner Damon Montgomery marked his first team debut with a wicket from his very first delivery.

Prestwich set a standard total of 173 for 7 from their 45 overs, but Little Lever were sending out distress signals at 98 for 7 before a late order rally sparked the tense finale.

Prestwich now await the winners of a Marple versus Kearsley clash in the next round of the competition, now known as the Kingfisher Beer Cup. They reached the last 16 last year, where they were beaten by the eventual winners Shrewsbury.

Missing the batting of Matt Wiley, who was inelegible, and leading wicket-taker Andy Bradley, who was on holiday, it was an excellent workout for the Heys team ahead in preparation for opening weekend of the Lancashire County League.

With the March warmth and sushine replaced by the April bitterness and overcast skies, the pitch was of typical early-season damp mould; some help for the bowlers hitting a good length, but fodder for anything short.

Holden’s breezy 53 in 54 balls was the cornerstone around which the Prestwich target was built, with opener James Wharmby making a dogged 30, and promising contributions of 19 from Chris Thomas and 19 not out from skipper Steven Lorenzini.

Depsite tight opening spells from Danny Jones and Oliver Holt, the breakthrough was made when the changes were inflicted as Holden yorked Kelly for 20, and had Ashworth smartly snapped up by Holt at mid-wicket, while Elliot Woodage trapped Wilson l.b.w. for 12.

Montgomery then made his mark with his first wicket, despite pitching it near his toes than the batsman’s, lulling Rushmore into a false shot and bowling him. He struck twice more to finish with a commendable 3 for 19 off seven overs.

Mike Taylor’s introduction to the attack paid dividends as he induced Worden to sky the ball to Holt for 20, but a plucky stand between Gent (31) and Anderton (19) left the home side needing 20 off the last four overs.

Steve Orrell sprinted Bolt-like 30 yards to hold onto a catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Anderton for 19, Jones bowled Rushmore for 5, leaving Tom Gibson to pin Gent l.b.w for victory.

With legside wides in operation, Prestwich conceded 40 extras – including 24 wides – which will need addressing as the same restriction now applies to league games.

Flowery Field are the visitors to The Heys for the opening league encounter on Saturday, followed by a trip to Denton West on Sunday.

An important meeting for the parents of all cricket juniors will take place in the clubhouse this Friday at 7pm.

It will provide a general welcome and introduction, detail the club’s child safety policy, and explain membership details.

LEAGUE champions Prestwich CC are ready for their first outing on turf this weekend as they set to retain the Lees Lancashire County title.

While the league campaign does not begin until April 21 with a home clash against Flowery Field, they are in competitive action on Saturday and Sunday.

The team faces a trip to Little Lever on Saturday in the first round of the National Knockout Cup, in which they reached the last 16 in 2011.

On Sunday, they travel to Uppermill for a challenge match against the champions of the Saddleworth League.

Skippered for a sixth season by Steven Lorenzini, the Heys club has retained Danny Jones as professional and Australian Matt Wiley has arrived back for a second year.

While left arm veteran spinner Chris Jones has signed for his home club Roe Green, Oliver Holt has returned to the Prestwich ranks after a year at Newton Heath.