Prestbury held despite Livesley knock

PRESTBURY entertained Woodford at the weekend and were held to a draw.

Having lost the toss, Prestbury were asked to bat, hoping to build on the positives from last week’s game.

However, they didn’t start out well as Stu Costello was lbw second ball, soon followed by Tremayne Ryder for 4.

Ryder is quickly learning that English wickets are very different to those at home, but it only second week of season.

The other opener, Ben McKeever, was going along nicely and he and Guri Singh took the score to 55 off 17 overs.

McKeever fell to a top edge shot and was caught and Ben Milner came to the wicket but only lasted seven balls before he was caught for 4.

The game was balanced with Prestbury 65 for 4 off 21 overs when Tom Livesley came to the wicket at his new position of batting six.

Livesley had a look at the bowling for a couple of overs and then raced to 50 with eight fours and two sixes. Guri, backing him up, also reached his second 50 of the season. Livesley took on the bowling and got to his century off 77 balls with 15 fours, seven sixes and very little running between the wickets. He was out for 118 off the last ball of the 43rd over.

Prestbury captain Ben Oakes declared, leaving Guri 70 not out, he and Livesley had put on 167 in 22 overs. The final score was 231 for 5.

After tea, Woodford went about winning the game and Coulbourn and Metcalfe took the score to 92 before Ben Oakes had Metcalfe caught for a fine 66.

He was soon followed by Stanton for 1, bowled by Cameron Kirkland.

Paul Butterworth then got the wicket of Coulbourn for 29.

Sperring was developing a solid innings but after Clinch was out, bowled by Paul for 18, wickets kept falling and two run outs and a fantastic one handed catch on the boundary by Ben Oakes meant Woodford were 189 for 8 with three overs left.

However, Clarke and Spearing (57 not out) saw Woodford to a draw.

Best bowling came from Cameron 10 overs 3 for 33.

Prestbury go to top of the table Wilmslow at the weekend.