Gap narrows as Prestwich lose (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Gap narrows as Prestwich lose

12:00pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in Sport

PRESTWICH suffered their second league defeat of the season when they fell to third-placed Denton St Lawrence by seven wickets.

The Heys side were second best on the day, having set a below-par total of 147, and the loss saw their lead at the top of the Lees Lancashire County League reduced to five points.

The Prestwich line-up found it hard to gain any rhythm against an accurate DSL attack from the outset as they batted first.

With Danny Jones and Matt Wiley back in the pavilion with 36 on the board, James Wharmby and Sam Holden ground out a partnersnip.

But Mike Batty and Rashid Nadeem rarely strayed off a good line, and found plenty of nip in the pitch to trouble both batsmen.

Holden’s booming straight drive was the pick of his shots in his innings of 28, before he was out lbw to Nadeem.

Wharmby completed his sixth 50 of the season, taking him past 600 runs for the season.

However, he was dismissed without adding to his half century and 110-4 became 114-7 as Mo Abid, introduced with 14 overs to go, started to spin his way through the middle and lower order.

Only a 30-run stand between Tom Gibson (12) and skipper Steven Lorenzini (12) halted the slide, but Abid claimed 6-21, backed up by Nadeem’s 24-over spell of 3-69, to leave DSL in the driving seat.

The visitors were made to fight hard to pass the total. Jones bowled Mark Dillnutt for 25 and pro Imran Mirza was well caught by Wharmby on the deep square boundary to make it 63-2.

Despite a tight 10-over spell from Andy Taylor, five of which were maidens and just 18 runs conceded, the Hawley brothers batted with the right mix of defence and aggression.

Matt reached an unbeaten half-century while opener Adam succumbed for a solid 43 when the scores were level, Gibson claiming the wicket with an edge to wicketkeeper Wiley.

Prestwich face a trip to Dukinfield on Saturday followed by a home clash with Cheetham Hill on Sunday.

A challenge game with Saddleworth League champions Uppermill had to be abandoned because of the weather last Sunday. Uppermill had made 171 off 36 overs, and Prestwich were 70-3 off 13 overs when play was finally called off.