Prestbury suffer double weekend blow

PRESTBURY lost out in the league and the Cheshire Shield at the weekend.

On Saturday, against Winnington Park, captain Ben Oakes won the toss and put Park into bat.

After a steady start Winnington slipped to 78 for 4 off 27 overs. Good fielding and tight bowling was making runs hard to come by but Ben Coulbeck, with a 41-ball 88, changed the game and took the score to 167 for 5.

Aussie Tim Braender took his first five-wicket haul as Park closed on 187 for 8. Braender ended with 5 for 49, supported by Aqeel Ahmed (2 for 12), but in reply the top six only produced 57 runs with Braender hitting 20. The lower order did grind out the runs with Max Cowley Jones (34) supported by Cameron Kirkland (19). Their effort got Prestbury within 26 balls of a draw but they fell short, all out for 131.

On Sunday Prestbury had the Cheshire Shield semi final against county league side Northwich.

Prestbury won toss and batted only to fall away to a good bowling attack. Only Tom Livesley with 24, Akbar Vohra (18) and 15-year-old Cameron Kirkland (12) showed some senior players how to hang around but 81 all out was never going to be enough. The bowling attack of Kirkland and Braender did have Northwich at 9 for 4 but only one more wicket fell as Northwich reached the target safely at 85 for 5, Braender 3 for 35, Kirkland 2 for 21.

Prestbury Cricket Club are holding a charity dinner in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust at the Bridge Hotel, Prestbury, on Friday 19th August. TV celebrity and local business owner Charlie Lawton (Jim McDonald in Coronation Street and now a singing star ) will be at the dinner. Contact Bill Livesley for details on 07774 717654