Big Steve Mac has played some scintillating innings since returning to the cricketing fold, including 1000+ runs last season, but his innings on Saturday at Prestwich was an early contender for outstanding performance of the season. Stepping into the first XI as opening bat, the 2nd XI skipper took on the Prestwich attack and carried his bat to register a thrilling victory.
It was obvious from the opening overs that the recent deluge had produced an extremely bowler friendly pitch and Finn and Ollie strangled the Prestwich batting line up. When the first wicket fell to Ollie off the 28th delivery of the game, there were only six runs on the board, only two of which had come off the bat.
The pair continued to torment the batting line up with further wickets falling in the 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th overs, leaving the home side at 30-5. A partnership ensued that took the score to 73, before Ollie took his 3rd wicket and despite a few mini partnerships, Praharsh stepped in with four wickets to bring the innings to a close on 133. That score was pretty much a par score in the conditions, but given the absence of Gareth Cross, Ollie's 3-32, Finn's 3-26 and Praharsh's 4-24 were highly commendable performances.
We needed a solid start, and for the second week in a row, we got it with Steve and Caleb putting on 36 before Caleb misjudged a drive and was bowled. The experiment to promote Jordy to number three failed and suddenly at 36-2, the game was in the balance again.
Sam and Macca ground their way to 65 before Sam succumbed for 15 and Steve, Ben and then Zach spent seven overs grinding their way through the seventies. Wickets fell at 78, 96 and two at 108, at which point Prestwich were slight favourites at 108-7, but another stand-in, young Owen, joined his second XI skipper at the crease and they eased their way to a memorable three wicket win with big Steve completing his half century and Owen (6no) having the honour of the winning hit.
Wins at Prestwich are as rare as hens' teeth and, without the services of several players, this must surely instil some much needed confidence in the side. Although it wasn't Jordy's day on the day, the three second teamers that have come into the side have stepped admirably up to the plate and helped boost the side from rock bottom to the dizzy heights of 8th in time for the trip to moneybags Shaw next week, whose outlay has not had the desired effect as they languish next to bottom of the table.