PRESTWICH captain Sam Holden is hoping Saturday’s thrilling win against reigning GMCL Premier League champions Flixton can be the springboard for a successful season.

Holden admitted “my heart rate was going” during a clash which saw hosts Flixton fall narrowly short of chasing 150 in 40 overs as they finished on 140-8.

But low-scoring games are always the best, aren’t they?

“Not as a captain they’re not,” he laughed. “My heart rate was going. 

“But it was really good to get the win against the league champions, and it gives us massive confidence.

“We definitely fancy our chances of having a successful season.

"The aim is to finish in the top four and hopefully win it.

“With the players we’ve got, we should be doing well and hopefully have a good run in the Lancashire Knockout too.”

Although Prestwich lost their opening league fixture against Clifton last Saturday, they beat Bolton League side Eagley in the ECB National Club Championship last Sunday.

And their confidence also stems from key additions of South Africa professional Martin Walters and Glossop’s Lee Dale.

“Martin is our old pro from Border in South Africa,” said Holden, whose side finished eighth last year. “We won the Lancashire County League and Walkden Cup double with him in 2015 before moving to the GMCL.

“We’ve also got Lee, who was Glossop’s pro last year. He has signed as an amateur.”

Saturday’s clash at Lawrence Road saw opener James Wharmby and Holden top-score with 30 and 34 respectively before off-spinners Andy Bradley, Nathan Bailey and Walters shared six wickets.

Bradley opened the bowling and led the way with 3-31 from 12 overs, with Flixton slipping from 51-0 and later recovering from 94-6 to take the game to the wire.

“It was close at the end,” said Holden. 

“They won the toss, but you could tell their captain was sceptical about what he wanted to do because he asked about three or four of their lads on the way to the middle.

“We were going to bat first anyway.

“The pitch was really wet. It wasn’t ideal conditions, but it dried out, started popping and turned into a spinners’ wicket.

“We knew we just had to get a score. There’s no doubt we had the better of the conditions.

“We got off to a really good start through Lee Dale and our usual opener James.

“We were maybe 40-0 after 10, but they brought their spinners on and slowed us down. 

“Myself and Ryan Stanbury put on a few at the end. I got 34 and Ryan an important 20 to get us up to what we thought was competitive.

“They also got off to a flyer chasing, with their two best bats opening – Luke Perry and Usman Tariq have both played for Lancashire seconds. But they were both left-handers, which suited our off-spinners.

“They struggled a bit afterwards, although there was the odd over where they hit a six to keep them in it. 

“From 90-odd for six, we should have bowled them out for 120. Thankfully, we got over the line.”