Dalugoda strikes for Prestwich (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Dalugoda strikes for Prestwich

12:10pm Thursday 30th July 2009

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PRESTWICH professional Amal Dalugoda claimed a magnificent seven to send rivals Roe Green spinning to defeat.

The home side nosedived from 37-1 to 74 all out as Dalugoda returned the mesmerising figures of 7-5.

Yet Saturday’s game began in such innocuous fashion for the Heys side that they looked to have a real match on their hands.

Chris Humphreys bowled a tight opening spell, but Justin Kenyon and Ashley Williams appeared to have becalmed the threat of Humphreys and Oliver Holt until an inspired piece of fielding by Andy Bradley — and a dozy piece of cricket by Williams — changed the course of the game.

Having made a fluent 21, Williams was subjected to an lbw appeal off the bowling of Humphreys which was turned down, and the ball trickled behind square for a seemingly easy leg bye. But cricket-savvy Bradley fired in a throw from 35 yards to the non-striker’s end, hitting the stumps and taking the idling Williams by surprise, leaving him two yards short of the crease.

Holt was not at his best, but claimed the prized wicket of Green captain Danny Jones, finding his outside edge, and wicketkeeper Gareth Barnes comfortably taking the catch.

Kenyon was the only batsman to give any prolonged resistance after that, making 27 before he became one of Dalugoda’s seven victims. Green were dismissed with more than 16 overs left.

A quickfire 19 from Steve Orrell got Prestwich going but Jones hit back with the wickets of Mike Hudson and Orrell.

Dalugoda made 11 before edging to wicketkeeper Hughes, but skipper Chris Thomas (22no) and Barnes (10no) rattled off the remaining runs.

Sunday’s trip to Dukinfield ended in abandonment, after the Heys team looked set to build a competitive score at 113-1, with Orrell unbeaten on 70 and Hudson making 30 in an opening stand of 104.

Prestwich 3rd XI squelched their way through to the Hodson Cup Final — winning a bowl-out 2-0 against Saddleworth. They now meet Greenmount in the final showdown later this month.

Sri Lankan professional XI beat a Prestwich XI by 38 runs in a Twenty/20 game at The Heys last Friday.

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