WOODBANK surrendered top spot in the Greater Manchester Cricket League Premier Division, succumbing to a dangerous but inconsistent Prestwich side.

Woodbank put their hosts in to bat first at The Heys and after the openers had gone cheaply, Sam Holden and Ali Raza put on 50 for the third wicket.

With James Wharmby’s 27 and an unbeaten 28 from number nine batsman Nathan Bailey, they completed their 50 overs with a score of 170-8.

Chris Read’s 4-40 was the best of the bowling attack, with two wickets each for two Nicks, Murphy and Kennedy.

The visitors, who began the day three points clear at the top of the table, were never close to chasing down their target.

Gavin Nichol was dismissed with the third ball of the innings with no runs on the board and the top-order batsmen all went cheaply as John Whitehead departed for three and Nichol’s opening partner, Dominic Gowers, for eight.

When Read went for seven Woodbank were in desperate trouble on 26-4 and just six more runs had been added when Anthony Harris was next man out for seven.

Steve Dearden and Ryan Barker offered some hope for their side but the former departed for an innings-high 19. Although Barker remained unbeaten on 18 at the end, no one else could make double figures and when Kennedy was out lbw from his first ball Woodbank were less than halfway to the target, all out for 84, 86 runs short.

For the victors Ryan Stanbury and Tom Scott had two scalps each but it was captain Andy Bradley who made the telling difference, taking six wickets for 30 runs.

The defeat means Woodbank slipped to second in the standings, two points behind new leaders Flixton.

Two relegation-threatened sides met at Radcliffe Road and it was hosts Bury who got the better of Walshaw, winning by 35 runs.

Put in to bat, Bury set a modest 147 all out, with Alex Breckin the leading scorer, making 29 before he was run out.

Dominic Morris contributed 28 and Mumtaz Mirza 20 but Bury failed to complete their allocated overs as two Jordans, Smith and Belston at 10 and 11, were seen off in successive balls by Dylan Blignaut (4-46).

Joe Smith-Butler ended with Walshaw’s best figures, 4-34.

Opener Ally Dickson was the high scorer with 29, but only he, Saif Bhojani (18) and Stephen Holt (18 not out) made double figures as Walshaw’s innings closed on 112-9.

Bury’s victory drew them level on points with Walshaw but the sides occupy second and third-bottom places in the Premier Division and remain in relegation danger.