Prestbury’s valiant bid falls short

IT was a busy weekend at Prestbury Cricket Club.

On Saturday, the first team hosted Old Parkonians and Prestbury skipper George Brindley won the toss and asked the visitors to bat.

Prestbury had early success when Will Worswick bowled D Berkson for 4 but the next pair of batsmen took the score to 71 when Bentor was run out by Alex Insley for 38.

The wicket was playing well and wickets had to be earned. With the score at 109 there was another run out this time by Rahul Mehta, then his brother Rishi had Hitchell caught by Jake Ogden for 45. Insley took a wicket, a caught and bowled, at 159 for 5 off 32 overs.

The game was finely balanced, but the visitors increased the rate until a breakthrough on 170 saw Insley get his second wicket with Lindoff caught by wicket keeper Max Cowling Jones for 33.

The score moved on quickly to 212 for 7 but Insley took three wickets in six balls so Old Parkonians were all out in the 40th over for 216. Prestbury wicket takers Worswick 1 for 50, Nick Taylor 1 for 58, Rishi Mehta 1 for 32, Alex Insley a 1st XI fivewicket haul, 5 for 43 off 9.4 overs.

Prestbury had a rocky start losing both Jake and Nick Ogden with the score on 5.

With 13 on the board Worswick was out for

8.

Wickets fell rapidly with seven falling for 46 runs so with the score at 59 for 9 in 21 overs it was looking like an early finish but Andy Scott had opened the batting and with Rahul Mehta started to use up the overs.

In 16 overs they took the score to 107, Scott had reached his 50 but on 61 he was caught leaving Mehta 5 not out a valiant effort as there was only 18 balls left to get an extra point for a team not bowled out in 40 overs.

The seconds went to play top of the table Exiles who batted first and made 209 for 4, Caleb Riley 2 for 29. Prestbury in reply fell away to 106 all out, Sumon 55.

Sunday was the annual Presidents’ Day 20/20 and in a close match the club select Xl won by 14 runs versus the President Xl.