PRESTWICH were left with a mountain to climb when visitors Cheetham Hill posted a towering total of 243.

But they ended up just two runs short of the victory summit with a valiant fightback.

A second wicket partnership of 153 between Kaushal and Rana paved the way for a sizeable total.

The prolific Ian Walker hit a fine 58 before skipper Steve Orrell took up the mantle with 32 in 27 balls, boosting the score to 184 with seven only overs left.

Some excellent cricket from teenagers Andy Taylor (20 not out) and Peter Walters almost dragged the game out of the fire as the duo whittled it down to 18 runs needed off the last over until Walters was run out off the penultimate ball.

Jamie McAndrew was left with the awesome task of striking four for a tie and six for victory. Despite cracking a superb extra cover drive, it was stopped on the boundary and two runs could only be scampered.

On Sunday, Prestwich suffered a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Irlam on a difficult wicket.

But the Heys team were faced with an uphill battle after just four overs of the game as they nosedived to 5 for 4.

But Mike Hudson, together with skipper Orrell, started to repair the damage with a stand of 52 as they finished on 135.

However, Rana smashed an unbeaten 65 to lead his side to a comfortable victory.

Meanwhile, Woodbank had a great weekend as they recorded two successive victories.

Mark Stringer (4-50) and Bilal Mustafa (4-60) helped restrict Sale Moor to just 177-9 on Saturday before David McCheyne's 89 helped his side to victory by one wicket.

Mark and Jason Stringer provided the backbone of Sunday's first innings total of 228-3 at home to Glossop.

Both players scored unbeaten half-centuries before Mark's haul of 4-90 in 25 overs ensured Glossop closed on 194-7.