Prestbury get points on the board with first victory

PRESTBURY’S first team made the journey to play Styal firsts after last week’s defeat.

Prestbury captain George Brindley won the toss and decided to put Styal in to bat.

Prestbury had early success as Ciarag Moralia had Johnson caught by wicket keeper Max Cowling Jones for 4 – 12 for 1. A smart run out by Rakesh Alex had Styal 20 for 2 and

Moralia struck again having Morton caught by Cowling Jones for 3.

Styal started to get back in the match but with the score at 43, Ben Wallace bowled Afzal for 4, opener Yaya was Woking the ball around but at 65 for 4, Rakesh Alex was brought on to bowl and in his first 11 balls picked up 3 wickets for 0 runs and then in his 3 over got the opener for 21. Raul Metha took the last wicket and Styal were all out for 89.

A good all round team performance – Prestbury wicket takers: Wallace 1 for 10, Moralia 2 for 19, Raul Metha 1 for 7 and Alex (4 overs 2 maidens) 4 for 16.

Prestbury opened the batting with Adam Phillips and Bryn Thompson but Phillips was out to a superb catch and Thompson soon followed caught in the slips – 5 for 2. New batsmen Rishi Metha and Stu Costello had build a partnership which went about with Costello hitting the ball hard and Metha showing maturity beyond his years to pick the bad ball to put away. That put on 77 runs in 14 overs but Costello fell short of his 50 when he was bowled for 48, and there was stutter in the batting as Brindley 2 and Cam Kirkland 5 were out and Metha was also out for 19. Cowling Jones and Morelia saw Prestbury home in the 23 over. A good win and 25 points to get the season going, there was two men of the match in Stu Costello and Rakesh Alex.

Meanwhile, Prestbury seconds were at home to Styal seconds. Styal batted first and scored 202 off their allotted overs, Nick Taylor 3 for 38 and a tight 10 over spell from Ridley Partridge 1 for 25. It was good again to see juniors from the club involved in senior cricket, Prestbury pushed hard to reach the target but fell 43 runs short, most batsmen got going and Ridley Partridge 43 not out and Jack Cookson 22 were among the runs.

Prestbury 3rds played a friendly against St Michaels parish team, Prestbury batted first and made 245 with Alister Knight (50 retired), Ali Goodier (46) and some quick runs by Will Worswick, Ben Wallace and Jake Haywood, all u15s from last year. It was good to have Jim Wallace back in cricket after a few years break. St Michaels were bowled out for wickets shared between Jim, Alex, Jack, Will, Jake and Alister. The first are at home this week to Over Peover.