SKIPPER Steve Orrell cracked an unbeaten 85 to keep Prestwich in pole position.

He led a sterling fightback with professional Craig Duxbury, who struck 66, to overhaul a Denton total of 216 with more than three overs in hand.

The four-point victory kept the Heys side top of the Lees Lancashire County League.

The pair came together with the score on 13 for 2, and Orrell facing a hat-trick ball from the pacey Edwards.

But he survived, and his first six scoring shots were all boundaries as he despatched some half-trackers to the fence.

Duxbury reached his 50 in 86 balls - an effortless extra cover drive off the neat-and-tidy Neill proving the shot of the day.

Edwards struck for the third time when he was reintroduced as Duxbury could not stop a yorker trickling back off his foot onto the stumps. But the partnership of 146 had put Prestwich in the driving seat.

When Neill took an excellent catch off his own bowling to dismiss David Fitzmaurice, teenager Mike Hudson showed he had the nerve for the situation with an impressive 26 not out to support his skipper. It also made amends for Hudson's role in running over Orrell's red helmet with a sightscreen earlier in the day, forcing him to borrow headgear in an unfamiliar blue!

Earlier in the day, Wasim Mir had smashed an unbeaten century for the home side, after Chris Humphreys had struck two early blows, both well cupped by wicketkeeper Ian Walker.

In an identical situation of 13 for 2, Andrew Leech played a fine supporting knock of 61 to Mir, before Andy Bradley took a sharp return catch to claim a deserved wicket. His opening spell of eight overs had gone for just 11 runs.

Some excellent ground fielding, allied to some good bowling at the death, put the clamps on any major acceleration in the Denton score, and that proved invaluable in their subsequently successful run chase.

Woodbank came out on top in their clash with second from bottom Irlam.

After racking up 229-5 in their alloted overs, Woodbank set about the home side with relish and had them all back in the hut for just 145.

The weekend has thrown up some interesting fixtures for both Prestwich and Woodbank.

On Saturday, Prestwich travel to Cheetham Hill with Woodbank hosting Roe Green.

The following day, Walkden Cup action returns and Woodbank entertain Longsight, with Dukinfield the visitors to Prestwich.