ALL-ROUNDER Paul Mercer and professional Craig Duxbury provided a bit of magic to make Dukinfield's bid for victory disappear.

Mercer, nicknamed Merlin by some of his team-mates, had already carved out an unbeaten 35 in 24 balls with the bat, and ran out opener Collins with a direct throw, before he pulled five wickets out of the hat when brought onto bowl.

Duxbury had dominated the early play, crashing 102, following on from his 124 in last week's triumph against league leaders Denton West. It was his fifth century of the season, taking him past the 1,000-run mark.

But when he was bowled by Shaw, Dukinfield's most incisive bowler, Prestwich hit a rut, losing four wickets in five overs, and adding just seven runs.

At 159 for 6, with only six overs left, it was left to Mercer's wizardry with the bat, which included three sixes, and Jamie McAndrew (14) as his sleek assistant to plunder some vital late runs and push the total to a satisfactory 213.

Both Dukinfield openers were in the Prestwich pavilion with the score on 27. Collins was sent back by the accuracy of Mercer's throw and Mayne was outwitted by a fine delivery from Alex Blake for 7.

Skipper and professional Paul Turner proved the major threat and he began to up the scoring rate with an array of expansive shots, although he survived a drop by Duxbury off the bowling of Andy Bradley.

Dukinfield had every chance with Turner at the crease, but the introduction of Mercer changed the course of the innings as he struck with his first ball despite dropping it halfway down the track. Turner rocked back and pulled the ball to mid-wicket where rival skipper Steve Orrell took a blinding diving catch and Turner trudged off for an impressive 63.

While Duxbury's perseverance at the other end earned him two wickets, Mercer was inflicting the main damage, and grabbed 5 for 32, his first-ever five wicket haul for the club.

With dark clouds looming and rain threatening, the finale was played in bizarre light, as part of the Heys ground was still lit up by the fading sun, and part lay in a grisly shadow.

Orrell had to refrain from bringing back his pacemen for fear of the batsman being taken off for bad light, so Prestwich were unable to oust the last pair a Dukinfield hung on at 185 for 9, 28 runs adrift. Prestwich were worthy winners, making it a double over their Tameside rivals.

A six-wicket haul from Colin Higginson and 70 from the in-form John Fiorentini ensured Prestwich 2nd XI kept on the heels of leaders Woodhouses in their division. They emerged victorious by 23 runs having posted a total of 149 on a slow wicket.

Five Prestwich players represented the Lancashire County League's Under-18 side who won the final of The Royal & Sun Alliance North-West Colts Trophy on Sunday.

Steven Lorenzini, Mike Hudson, Andy Taylor, Pete Walters, and 12th man Alex Blake were part of the successful squad who defeated the Cheshire County League by seven runs.

Lorenzini scored 51 and took 3 for 13, and Cheetham Hill's Imran Mirza top scored with 75.

It was the second successive year the Lancashire County side had lifted the trophy, although their opponents have won the competition on 14 previous occasions.