IT may have been Harry Potter mania last weekend, but Ian Walker cast his own magic spell with the bat.

The Prestwich number three smashed his first ton for the club on Sunday, against Cheetham Hill, where he was once professional.

His unbeaten 120 followed on from a vital half century the day before at Dukinfield, where the pitch was slower and trickier.

It was then left to Andy Bradley to get in on the act, making six Dukinfield batsmen disappear in a spellbinding display of pacey bowling, and earning Prestwich victory by 23 runs.

The Prestwich innings had started off soundly, despite the early loss of pro Craig Duxbury. Steven Lorenzini and Walker took the score to 86 before Lorenzini fell to a stunning mid-wicket catch by Burke for 38.

The Heys side struggled to maintain any fluency with the slowness of the wicket, although Mike Hudson with 15 and a late blast from Dilruk Yahathugoda, his 23 containing two sixes, ensured the innings did not peter out. Collins (5 for 48) and Turner (4 for 62 ) were the main wicket-takers.

Bradley struck three times early on to put Dukinfield on the back foot at 21 for 3, and a lot rested on the shoulders of skipper Paul Turner.

He cracked 44 and survived two chances, before Bradley claimed him, the ball pouched by Yahathugoda at mid-on for 44.

With Craig Duxbury picking up three wickets, Dukinfield slumped to 124 for 9, and while Ditta struck a couple of lusty blows in his 25, it was Bradley who returned to grab his wicket and finish with figures of 6 for 54 off 15.2 overs. His haul also promoted him to fourth place in Prestwich's post-war list for the highest number of wickets, overtaking Ken Morgan.

On Sunday, Walker's century was the cornerstone of a total of 229 for 7.

Prestwich had looked in early trouble at 6 for 2, but David Fitzmaurice helped Walker repair some of the damage until he flicked a ball straight to mid-wicket with the score on 44.

Skipper Steve Orrell and Walker began to assume control as the pair put on a stand of 78 before Orrell was superbly caught at deep square leg by the diving Mirza for 40, off the bowling of Cohen.

Walker gave one chance, but it was not snapped up and he made them pay. He began to accelerate -- his second 50 coming in just 43 balls -- and was given excellent support from Andy Taylor (19) and Chris Thomas (14 not out) with some intelligent cricket in the latter few overs.

Walker faced 147 balls in his 120 not out, containing 14 fours and three sixes.

Cheetham Hill lost two wickets with 35 on the board as Andy Taylor bowled the attacking Riaz and Orrell swiftly ran out Kaushal.

The game was beginning to open up when the rain interrupted, making it impossible for Prestwich to bowl all their overs in the allotted time, after Cheetham Hill had taken nearly three-and-a-half hours to complete their 50 overs.

However, after a third interruption for rain, the game came to an inevitable stalemate and the points were shared.

Prestwich

S Lorenzini c Burke b Collins 38

C Duxbury c Burke b Eastwood 15

I Walker c Turner b Collins 52

D Fitzmaurice b Collins 1

P Walters b Collins 8

M Hudson b Turner 15

S Orrell l.b.w. b Turner 0

D Yahathugoda c Gandy b Turner 23

P Mercer c Ashworth b Collins 1

A Taylor c Roberts b Turner 3

A Bradley not out 3

extras 7

(49.4 overs) TOTAL 166 all out

Eastwood 14-3-25-1 Ryder 7-2-27-0 Turner 17.4-1-62-4 Collins 11-0-48-5

Dukinfield

D Ashworth c Orrell b Bradley 6

S Collins c Lorenzini b Bradley 0

P Turner c Yahathugoda b Bradley 44

D Gandy l.b.w. b Bradley 8

M Roberts c and b Yahathugoda 17

A Eastwood b Duxbury 12

P Taylor b Duxbury 0

I Ditta c Orrell b Bradley 25

J Burke b Duxbury 6

K Aziz st Walker b Bradley 5

I Ryder not out 2

extras 18

(44.2 overs) TOTAL 143 all out

Bradley 15.2-2-54-6 Taylor 6-0-29-0 Duxbury 16-3-36-3 Yahathugoda 7-1-16-1

Sunday

PRESTWICH

C. Duxbury c Tighe b Letven...3

M. Hudson c Butt b Wasif...3

I. Walker not out...120

D. Fitzmaurice c Flegg b Cohen...8

S. Orrell c Murza b Cohen...40

D. Yahathogoda c Wasif b Riaz...5

M. Walsh c Wasif b Cohen...7

A. Taylor b Wasif...19

C. Thomas not out...14

Extras...10

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Total (for 7) 229

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50 overs

Letven 10.2-2-31-1; Wasif 10-2-43-2; Cohen 15-2-59-3; Butt 3-0-12-0; Tigh 5-0-28-0; Riaz 5-0-32-1; Mirza 1.4-0-18-0.

CHEETHAM HILL

V. Kaushall run out...15

A. Riaz b A. P. Taylor...17

S. Flegg not out...16

I. Mirza not out...29

Extras...9

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Total (for 2) 86

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29 overs

P. A. Bradley 11-1-34-0; A. P. Taylor 7-1-28-1; C. Duxbury 6-2-9-0; D. Yahathugoda 4-0-12-0; M. J. Walsh 1-1-0-0.