THE ups and downs of cricket were experienced within 24 hours by Prestwich.

They maintained their position at the top of the Lancashire County League with a plucky five-wicket victory over Cheetham Hill, but were dumped out of the Walkden Cup by Dukinfield the following day.

The Cheetham Hill openers McLennan and Batwa had seen off the opening stints of Chris Humphreys and Andy Bradley in a stand of 45 when John Walters got a wicket with his first delivery.

Batwa struck the ball to mid-on where Matty Walsh cupped the catch for 28.

Alex Blake bowled in tandem with Walters with pace and accuracy and he claimed the wickets of Survana and Mirza, both edging into the gloves of wicketkeeper Ian Walker.

A smart pick-up and throw by Steven Lorenzini saw McLennan comfortably run out, and when Walters picked up his second wicket, the home side were on 87 for 5.

However, the flamboyant Abbas and the steadfast Flegg put on a 61-run partnership before the whole face of the game changed in two balls.

Humphreys bowled Flegg with a beauty for 14 and the next delivery skipper Steve Orrell swooped to run out Abbas for 46.

Although Prestwich failed to prise out all the Hill batsmen, they restricted Hill to just 20 runs off the last nine overs and a total of 168.

Pick of the Prestwich bowling was Blake (3 for 21) and Walters (2 for 35).

Lornezini fell for 10 with the score on 24 and Walker made 12 before he gloved a turning delivery from Abbas to wicketkeeper McLennan.

Craig Duxbury, joined by Orrell, chanced his arm on occasions with a series of cuts and drives, while Orrell played an anchor role in a partnership of 54 before he top edged a catch to square leg for 15.

Duxbury fell for a vital 62, leaving David Fitzmaurice to take up the mantle; making an unbeaten 43.

Walsh crashed the winning boundary over extra cover to seal a hard-fought triumph with two overs remaining.

On Sunday, Prestwich were given a nine-wicket walloping by visitors Dukinfield.

Duxbury was again in fluent form, hitting 48 out of a score of 59, and Walker struck 37 in the face of some tight bowling.

Orrell made 17 before he was the third wicket to fall with the score on 103, marking a succession of wickets for Dukinfield skipper Greg Harwick who finished with 5 for 19.

Blake smashed the last ball for six to push the total beyond 180.

Paul Turner, in particular, took advantage of some poor bowling to crash an unbeaten 80 in just 67 balls, while Mayne remained 42 not out to seal the win.

Prestwich face a double header in the league this weekend, away at Roe Green on Saturday, followed by a home clash with Thornham on Sunday.

Prestwich 2nd XI remain top of their division after a four-point triumph over Cheetham Hill and they earned a quarter-final place in the Hulme Cup with a comfortable victory at Dukinfield, Matty Walsh top scoring with 58.