PRESTWICH defeated league leaders Denton West by four runs in one of the matches of the season last Sunday.

Played in an excellent spirit by both teams, Prestwich amassed a challenging total of 252 for 5, with professional Craig Duxbury leading the way with a superb 124.

As if the total was not tough enough, West suffered two crucial blows in the field as in-form skipper Gareth Senior dislocated a finger stopping a Fitzmaurice cover drive, and big-hitting Nigel Williams limped off with a hamstring injury.

But West looked undaunted by the setbacks as pro Perera and Imi Zaman put West back in the driving seat with a 106-run stand in 17 overs before Steven Lorenzini grabbed the vital breakthrough of Perera to spark a mini-collapse.

But the sight of opposing skipper Senior returning from hospital to get his pads on as number eleven batsman made for an amazing finale as he hit a four off his first ball to leave nine runs wanted from the last over but he could not strike the blow needed off the last ball, and both sides left the field to tumultuous applause.

On Saturday, Prestwich suffered a last over defeat at Thornham despite Ian Walker's fourth century of the season as the total of 214 proved insufficient.

Bradley picked up four wickets as Prestwich made a late rally, but it was not enough.