Prestbury dig in to frustrate leaders

PRESTBURY 1st XI hosted top of the table Stockport Georgians and earned a credible draw against the leaders.

Prestbury captain Ben Oakes won the toss and asked Stockport to bat. Paul Butterworth struck early when he had Jones caught by Adam Philips for 7.

Johnson and Normanton took the score to 47 before Butterworth struck again, having Normanton caught by Ben Oakes for 11.

Butterworth took his third wicket when he got Johnson LBW for 38. The score was 94 but Yates was soon out for 0, caught by wicketkeeper Steve Oldfield again off the bowling of Butterworth.

Keene was joined by Skate and the next wicket didn’t fall until the score was 136, Keene out for 52 after being caught by Oldfield off a Kav Shanmugan delivery.

And Stockport were 136 for 6 when Skade fell to the bowling of Cameron Kirkland, caught by Oakes.

Box was out for 0, caught by Cameron Graham off the bowling of Kirkland, Bailey was out at 191 when he was caught by Oakes off Kirkland while Graham had Locke caught by Philips.

M Bailey and Dodd took the score to 223 for 9 when Stockport declared, leaving Prestbury 49 overs to get 224.

Prestbury’s wicket takers were Butterworth 4 for 66, Kirkland 3 for 47, Shanmugan 1 for 20 and Graham 1 for 59.

During the tea interval the heavens opened and reduced Prestbury’s innings to 24 overs with a target of 224 which realistically meant them digging in for a draw.

Philips and Bryn Thompson opened the innings and put together a solid 35 off eight overs before Thompson fell for 16.

Tom Livesley joined Philips and was out bowled for 3, but 14 overs had been used up by that stage.

Ben Milner joined Philips, but the latter was soon out for 18.

Stockport were running out of overs and Kirkland and Milner took the score on to 110 with one over left of the 24.

Though Kirkland was caught for a mature 24, Shanmugan and Milner saw out the last over, Milner ending 31 not out.

Prestbury’s man of the match was Cameron Kirkland in what had been a fine team effort.

The previous Thursday, Prestbury had won in the DCCL Zone Cup match against High Lane Cricket Club, bowling out High Lane for 106 and then making the target in the 16th over for the loss of six wickets.

Special mention for Abhirup Biswas, playing for Prestbury seconds – he bowled 12.1 overs and claimed eight wickets for 26 runs.