Prestbury run out of deliveries in pursuit of victory

PRESTBURY came desperately close to beaing Oakmere but had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Prestbury captain Ben Oakes won the toss and decided to bat.

Ben Mckeever and Robin Farmer opened the batting, putting together a solid 28 off 10 overs before Farmer was out caught for 18. Mckeever was joined by Steve Oldfield and they progressed to 58 when Oldfield was out for 7.

Guri Singh came in, but at 68 off 23 overs scoring was difficult and when Mckeever went for a patient 23 off 71 balls, the innings collapsed.

Aqeel Ahmed (0), Stuart Burnell (1), Tom Livesley (7) and Tremayne Ryder (0) all went cheaply as Prestbury fell to 85 for 8.

The 100-run mark looked beyond them but Ben Oakes 8 and a superb 26 not out by Paul Butterworth pushed the score to 106 for 8 when Oakes was out. Cameron Kirkland and Butterworth took the score to 121 for 9 off 45 overs.

After tea Oakmere had 45 overs to get 122 to win. Butterwoth got an early wicket, Farmer taking the catch, and it was soon 19 for 2 as Singh struck.

Oakmere’s overseas amateur was dismissed for 2 and at 22 for 3 it was game on.

Oakmere did recover to 46 off 20 overs but Oakes brought Kirkland into the attack early and had success with a wicket in his third over. Singh struck as well to take it to 46 for 5 and that soon became 56 for 6 – another wicket for Kirkland. He soon had three wickets with the score on 65 for 7.

Oakmere took the score on to 83 off 40 overs, so the result could have gone either way.

When Ryder got another wicket it swung towards Prestbury and a run out, Prestbury needed one wicket from the last four balls and Oakmere needed 23 runs.

Prestbury couldn’t get the wicket off last over as oakmere ended at 110 for 9. Best bowling was Kirkland 3 for 22 off 12 overs.

On Thursday, Prestbury played Kerridge CC in Twenty20 Cup and won easily, bowling Kerridge out for 54.

Good bowling performances came from Singh, 4 for 7, and Simon Edmunds, 3 for 6.

Prestbury knocked off the runs in five overs, Ahmed 39 not out and Burnell 17 not out.