Guri’s all round top show

PRESTBURY opened the 2017 season away at Winnington Park, welcoming an influx of players from Alderley Park Cricket Club which unfortunately closed during the winter.

Prestbury captain Ben Oakes won the toss and decided to bat. Adan Philips and Ashwin Sardeshpqnde opened and the former was caught early with one run on the board.

The early loss of overseas player Tremayne Ryder for 12 meant Prestbury were 20 for 2 and it seemed last season’s struggles with the bat were back.

But steady progress meant that when Oakes was out for a solid 28 they were 62 for 3 off 21 overs. Guri Singh was settling in, building a good innings, Simon Edmunds came and was unlucky to be run out for 7, this brought in Tom Livesley who got 19 off 16 balls

Prestbury were 116 for 5 off 32 overs when Livesley was replaced at the wicket by Aqeel Ahmed. Guri by now had reached his 50 off 75 balls. Aqeel hit the ball well and made 30 off 24 balls with two sixes.

All the time the score was building and with Abhirup Biswas making nine and Ben Oakes a single, it meant after 45 overs Cameron Kirkland was left 10 not out.

Star of the day was Guri, finishing on 75 not out of a Prestbury total of 195 for 8.

Winnington Park lost two early wickets, one to Ryder and one to Guri, but Butcher and Wales took the score to 85 before Kirkland struck.

Coulbeck with a quick 36 got Winnington Park to 157 for 5 but all rounder Guri then took three quick wickets to swing the game Prestbury’s way with the score 170 for 7.

Kirkland got the prize wicket of Wales for 67 to finish with 3 for 44, then Guri took another to make it 5 for 33 and Winnington Park had two bails left in the 45th over and survived to get a draw. A good start for both teams in a game played in great spirit.