High flyers close gap to the top with draw

PRESTBURY seconds turned up at Aston after driving through some unfavourable weather, seemingly with little chance of play.

But as they drove down Nantwich Road and turned the corner about one mile from the ground it was bone dry!

The toss was the won by Prestbury and with the wicket dry and the skipper thinking the rain must be coming, he elected to bat. Also, with Aston only one place above them in the league in third, points were needed.

Prestbury got off to a slow but steady start when Graham Fish went to pull a ball but ended up pulling his bicep.

He had to get it iced and left the field. The home captain agreed he could come back to complete his innings if fit enough.

As he left the field the incoming Hall was not quite with it and unfortunately ran him self out. Some good batting from Stu Burnell (45) Sam Crosby (38) and Leesh Kanthasany got Prestbury to around the 150 mark. Fish then came in to finish his innings with a quick fire 68, Prestbury bowled out in the 44th over for 202, giving Aston 46 overs to chase.

Prestbury skipper K Robinson elected to open the bowling with seam and spin to keep the pace of the ball on a slow wicket.

Some good bowling from Kirk Lewis and Abi Biswas kept the run rate in toe but no wickets fell.

The skipper brought himself on and another spinner to try and get a wicket and two came – but so did the runs.

With two down and lots of overs left, the captain brought another change, keeping with spin and seam option. The game finished in a tight draw, Aston finishing on 196 for 8.

A really tight game played in good spirit with a fair result in the end. With Langley losing, Aston and Prestbury both closed the gap to second. The case continues Saturday at home to the table toppers.