Cricket: Prestwich beaten as Heywood march on in national club championship

Evidence that Heywood are becoming a force to be reckoned with came in a decisive defeat of highly-rated Prestwich in the second round of the Royal London National Club Championship.

A seven-wicket defeat of a side currently standing in second place in the Premier Division of the Greater Manchester League underlined the confidence running through the side after last season’s relegation to Division One.

Prestwich can point to mitigating circumstances, with their professional ruled out owing to competition rules and key all-rounder Sam Holden unable to bowl because of an injured ankle.

Heywood can still reflect on a job confidently done, with professional Travis Townsend, skipper Danny Pawson and Bobby Cross the leading protagonists.

Prestwich looked unlikely to get anywhere near their final of 140 when they were reduced to 51-5, with a couple of wickets apiece for Pawson and Townsend.

The latter was then taken out of the attack with the remarkable figures of two wickets for three runs from six overs to preserve his remaining three overs. And Prestwich took the opportunity to rebuild their innings thanks to Mike Hudson and Alex Taylor.

They battled bravely and to such an extent put together a stand of 62 before Hudson was run out by a tremendous piece of work by Pawson, pouncing on the ball from short extra cover and diving to underarm the ball at the stumps.

That signalled the way for Heywood, and Townsend in particular, to polish off the tail despite a brave rear-guard action from Taylor.

The professional, bowling a tight line and length with his medium-pacers and well supported by wicketkeeper Cross, claimed three more victims to finish with the sublime figures of 5-11 from eight overs. It was fitting that Pawson should finish the job by having Taylor caught behind for 38.

If Heywood thought the run chase would be comfortable, they were to get a rude awakening when off spinner Nathan Bailey was introduced into the Prestwich attack to claim three quick wickets.

Andy Kerr and 15-year-old Mikey Witts battled hard in an opening stand of 25 before Kerr was smartly caught and bowled, Witts pulled a catch to mid-wicket and Townsend was clean bowled.

That, however, brought Cross and Pawson together and their class shone through in an unbroken stand of 105.

Opposing skipper Andy Bradley recognised the importance of trying to break the partnership by continuing to use up his main bowlers, but the Heywood duo gradually gained total dominance to such an extent that the victory target was reach with more than 11 overs to spare.

Cross ended on 64, Pawson on 46, and it was good to see the sporting Prestwich players applaud them from the field along with the spectators.

It was a victory that proved Heywood that are becoming a team in every sense of the word as everyone played their part.

Now they look forward to resuming their Division One promotion push as well as a third round Royal London clash against their old Central Lancashire League rivals Walsden.

Prestwich

J Wharmby c Pawson b Townsend 10
R Stanbury c Cross b Pawson 24
L Smith lbw b Townsend 2
S Holden c Townsend b Pawson 6
M Hudson run out 25
T Gibson c Pawson b Morley 0
A Taylor c Cross b Pawson 38
H Aziz lbw b Townsend 0
N Bailey lbw b Townsend 0
A Bradley c Cross b Townsend 1
W Reeve not out 3
Extras 21
Total (43.1 overs) 140
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-37, 3-46, 4-50, 5-51, 6-113, 7-133, 8-133, 9-135, 10-140
Bowling: S Dawson 9-1-34-0, A Dawson 9-2-42-0, D Pawson 8.1-1-22-3, T Townsend 8-4-11-5, J Morley 9-1-24-1

Heywood

A Kerr c and b Bailey 13
M Witts c Gibson b Bailey 9
R Cross not out 64
T Townsend b Bailey 4
D Pawson not out 46
Extras 7
Total (for 3 wkts, 33.3 overs) 143
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-30, 3-38
Bowling: R Stanbury 9-3-26-0, A Bradley 9-3-27-0, W Reeve 7-0-42-0, N Bailey 8.3-1-44-3