WOODHOUSES WIN WALKDEN CUP

Two time Walkden Cup winners, Prestwich, were looking to make it a record three victories and they gave themselves every chance by winning the toss for choice of venue. At the time of the final, in early August, Prestwich were top of the league, albeit with the same points as Woodhouses, both sides still in with a shout of the “double”. Craig Duxbury (61) and Ian Walker (48) added 112 for the second wicket, Duxbury passing 800 runs for the season in the process, but a much higher total looked on the cards before Mark Akin (6-20) with his second “five for” had other ideas and a total of 170-9d was perhaps 30 short of what had looked “on” earlier.

However with Woodhouses on 53-6 with Oliver Holt (4-27) bowling with genuine pace, the game looked to be Prestwich’s. Duxbury conceded only 12 runs off 10 overs, but once the rain came the ball skidded onto the bat quicker and the Prestwich bowlers found the wet ball difficult to bowl with. This was to take nothing away from Chris Atherton who scored an unbeaten 60 to carry Woodhouses home with two wickets to spare. He batted very responsibly and was justifiably named Man of the Match.

The road to the final began in late May with Woodhouses hosting Thornham and Prestwich travelling for a local derby at Cheetham Hill.

Danny Scott scored 43 not out but John Seeary with 6-17 bowled Thornham out for 101. Mike Cassidy was a man in a hurry as he finished unbeaten on 85 in a seven wicket win (Ian Gilbertson 2-7). 

At Catherine Road, captain Steve Orrell filled in as stand-in opener for Prestwich and recorded a season’s best 95, his 30th fifty and he put on 114 with Craig Duxbury (53). Chasing 237-5d Hill were reduced to 24-5 but Vilas Kutty (67) and Matthew Mallard (47) took the score to 131 before they were finally bowled out for 193.

Danny Walker took 3-14 to help reduce Woodbank from 92-4 to 110 all out (Neil Ridehaugh 45, David McCheyne 41). This followed 40 by Imran Mirza in Denton’s 166-6d.

Irlam’s Saj Ahmed carried his bat for 74 in a total of 142 (Paul Turner 4-45) and then Manny Khan’s 4-18 helped bowl Dukinfield out for 85 (Pervez Shah 3-16).

St. Lawrence racked up 266-9d with Adam Hawley’s 93 being his 10th fifty and Jason Bennett’s 29 ball fifty (57*) being his first. Bhatiya Perera took 4-67 for Glossop who could only muster 133 in reply despite 75 from Steve Bates. Dave Morrell took 2-8 off eight overs.

West traveled to Stand and bowled them out for 114 with Gareth Senior taking 3-20. David Taylor scored 52 for the home side and in reply Mike Berry hit a 50 ball fifty in an eight wicket win for West, Trent scott being the only wicket taker with 2-44.

Flowery Field and Roe Green received byes into the second round.

This round ended St. Lawrence’s hopes of a “double double” at Medlock Road with Woodhouses scoring 183-8d. Gareth Tuson scored 65 and Mark Akin 43 not out as ‘Houses recovered from 68-6 to 160-7, Jason Bennett taking 2-13 off his ten overs. Adam Hawley (36) and Scott Allen (26) top scored for the Saints but Mike Cassidy (4-35) and Joe Wolfenden (3-28) bowled them out for 143.

Paul Green (93*) was the main obstacle for Prestwich as they visited Greenleach Lane. The home side scored 174-7d with Green hitting his 100th fifty to go with his 17 hundreds. Craig Duxbury took 3-29 and then it was Steve Davies with 89 who led Prestwich to a five wicket win. Mike Hudson (37) put on 105 with Davies for the third wicket and Matthew Wright took 2-18 off ten overs.

An unbeaten 96 from Imran Mirza together with 54 from Martin Leech saw Denton to 246-4d. Flowery Field’s brave run chase ended when their last wicket fell on 225 (Lee shufflebottom 49). Ghulam Abbas took 4-42 and Tim standing had five wicketkeeping victims.

Irlam batted first against Denton West, scoring 203 with Saj ahmed top scoring on 35. Jason Stringer took 4-45 and Robin Morris 3-31. In reply Nigel Williams (61) was top score in a total of 165 (Rick Blackman 2-16 off ten overs).

The semi-finals in mid July had Irlam bowled out for 184 with Chris Hilton top scoring on 41. Chris Atherton took 4-26 for Woodhouses and Kevin Quinn 3-27. 50 from Alan Starmer and 42 from John Seeary gave Woodhouses a four wicket win (Rick Blackman 3-22).

Steve Davies’ 10th fifty (53) and Mike Hudson’s 7th (58) gave Prestwich a total of 225-9d. Mo Barkatali too four wickets and Andrew Neill was his usual miserly self with 1-11 off ten overs. Modi Ali scored 50 but with Oliver Holt taking 4-23 and Peter Walters 3-46, Denton were bowled out for 130.