A NINE-wicket victory over Irlam has given Prestwich one of their best starts to the Lancashire County League season.

Notorious slow starters, the Heys first team have now won both their opening games to give them 10 points out of a 10.

It puts them in good spirits for a dynamic double header this weekend against title contenders Woodhouses and reigning champions Denton West.

Irlam had done the double over Prestwich last season, and while they have lost the services of professional Mahmood, possess a number of match winners.

Skipper Steve Orrell won the toss, and his decision to field paid early dividends when Steven Lorenzini pounced to run out young Parkinson.

Andy Bradley (2 for 17) then struck twice to leave Irlam at 9-3.

Chris Humphreys, who had struggled to gain a consistent line, then came into his element, bowling the dangerous Rana for 10 , after he had struck him for six over mid-on. Afzal was comfortably snapped up at slip by Craig Duxbury, to give Humphreys his second victim, and Irlam were dangling over the precipice at 24-5.

However, the home side suffered their biggest blow when pro Duxbury dislocated his finger fielding the ball at slip, and he had to leave the field.

Opener Ahmed and Haider staged a mini recovery, putting on 35 before Ahmed was lbw for 31 off Humphreys.

That sparked another rush as the last four wickets fell for two runs, as Humphreys (4-32) caught and bowled Ali Ahmed, Lorenzini (2-12) claimed a brace of late wickets, and the big-hitting Manny Khan was run out.

Irlam made Prestwich fight for the runs, led by Rick Blackman whose 11 overs cost just 14 runs.

Mike Hudson showed grit to overcome an uneasy start, and with Lorenzini looking solid at the other end, their first wicket partnership of 32 put the home side well on the way to victory.

Hudson was adjudged lbw from a lifter, off the bowling of Haider for 12, but with Lorenzini hitting a couple of classy square cuts, unbeaten on 27, and Ian Walker cracking a three fours in an unbeaten 16, ensured Prestwich's 100 per cent start.

The seconds got off to a flying start of equal proportions, after their triumph at Irlam gave them a 10 out of 10 point haul.

Steve Brady cracked a century as the thirds beat ELPM in the cup on Sunday, and followed it up with a comfortable league victory against.