PRESTWICH ended a 35-year wait to reach the Walkden Cup final when a superb team effort overcame the individual stars of Denton St Lawrence.

DSL were everybody's red-hot favourites to win this encounter and, after running up a mammoth 270 for three against the Heys Road side in a recent league encounter, that was understandable.

Even before the game, Steve Orrell's men had problems as top wicket taker Chris Humphreys broke down again in his first over a day earlier, while 'keeper Billy Taylor also picked up an injury against Longsight which severely restricted his mobility.

But Prestwich overcame all these handicaps to outplay the Saints magnificently in every facet of the game.

The victory was based on a sound opening partnership of 83 from Carl Hey (40) and Craig Duxbury (41). When they departed, captain courageous Steve Orrell took over with a knock of 66 that won him the man-of-the-match award.

But at 163 for three with only five overs left, Prestwich looked short of runs on a good batting track.

Enter Jon Garstang, who played a brilliant cameo innings of 23 to help Orrell accelerate. With Humphreys, Bradley, O'Connor and Fiorentini all contributing at a run-a-ball or better in their brief stays, 50 more runs were plundered to set DSL an interesting target.

The attack has rarely had the luxury of so many runs to bowl at and they made the most of the occasion, backed up by an outstanding display of fielding, although there was an element of luck about the first wicket to fall when the ball bounced back off Taylor's pads to stump Damien Stringer.

There was nothing fortunate, however, about the incredible outfield catch Humphreys took to dismiss dangerman Bocarro for a duck. If catches win matches, then this was the catalyst for success.

The DSL balcony visibly wilted with shock while Prestwich were lifted to new heights. Veteran Dave Sandiford, under extreme pressure after conceding 122 runs in his previous 14 overs without a wicket, responded with a magnificent stint of three for 22 to rip out the middle order after Duxbury's two early wickets. Andy Bradley brought yet another huge roar from the large crowd as he took a fine diving catch to dismiss opener Ian Rathbone for a top scoring 39 off Higginson.

The mighty Saints had nose-dived to 79 for six.

With occasional bowler John Fiorentini minimising the absence from the attack of Humphreys with two wickets, there was no way out for the visitors, despite some late, lusty blows from Batty and Khan.

When Higginson and Fiorentini combined to dismiss Batty, an emphatic victory was secured but the players now have to remind themselves that they have only half done the job which they have to finish when they take on Irlam on August 1.

A day earlier, New Zealand Test umpire Billy Bowden officiated as Hey (61) and Duxbury (101, his second ton of the season) put on 142 for the first wicket against Longsight, enabling Prestwich to post a best of the season 230 for five.

When Bradley, with four for 49, took out the visitors' top order the result was never in much doubt, and with Duxbury and Fiorentini taking two wickets each, Longsight finished 38 runs adrift.

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