PRESTWICH kicked off the new Greater Manchester Cricket League season with a 62-run win at Moorside.

James Wharmby, 105, and skipper Martin Walters, 45, put on 131 for the first wicket as the visitors posted 225-7 batting first.

Wharmby, showing no ill-effects from an operation to mend his bicep, hit seven fours and seven sixes.

Moorside were then dismissed for 163, Andy Bradley taking 3-33.

Woodbank went down to a six-wicket defeat against Roe Green despite a fine century from Gav Nicholl.

The number three finished unbeaten on 117 from 119 balls as the hosts posted 233-9 batting first.

The visitors got over the line with three overs to spare thanks in the main to 99 from Joe Gatenby-Brown.

Bury went down to a six-wicket opening-day defeat at home to Edgworth in Premier 2.

Dom Morris’ quick-fire 60 had helped Bury post 165-6 but an unbroken century stand between Jon Kerrigan, 54, and Alex Waddicar would get the visitors over the line.

In Premier 2, Walshaw won by 62 runs at near neighbours Stand.

The visitors had Saif Bhojani’s 82 to thank for their 162 all out batting first.

Chris Williams did most of the damage with the ball, finishing with figures of 5-29.

There was also a five-wicket haul for Walshaw’s Deswin Currency who took 5-39 to help dismiss Stand for 100. Shahrukh Khan posted figures of 4-31 with Steven McGuinness’ unbeaten 33 the best the hosts could muster with the bat.

In the Championship there was a narrow one-wicket defeat for Elton at home to Heaton.

Tilaksha Malshan was the star of the show, taking 4-32 as Elton were dismissed for 133 before making 54 as the visitors edged over the line despite 3-46 from Steven Filkins.

Edenfield also lost on home soil, by two wickets against Shaw.

Dilanka Sandakan took 6-45 to dismiss the hosts for 146 with Adam Barnes top scoring with 45 at the top of the order.

Sandakan then completed a fine all-round day with 28 to help his side over the line despite Andrew Rushton taking 4-52 and Dan Jenkins 3-30.

Brooksbottom went down to a 40-run defeat at Swinton Moorside.

Mohsan Iqbal took 5-36 as Moorside posted 193 with wicketkeeper Dominic Gowers then top scoring with 45 as the visitors came up short in reply, all out for 153.

In Division One, Prestwich 2nds went lost by 34 runs against Denton.

The visitors made 211 batting first, Stephen Ritchie the pick of the bowlers with 5-45.

Captain Haris Aziz then put in a fine shift with the bat at the top of the order with 62 but he lacked support as Prestwich finished on 177-9.

Radcliffe got the better of near neighbours Tottington St Johns in Division 2A, winning by 37 runs.

After the visitors were dismissed for 153, professional Salman Saeed took 5-44 to help bowl out the home side for just 116.

East Lancs Paper Mill beat Worsley by four wickets in a low-scoring game.

Ryan Wilkes starred with 6-21 as the visitors were skittled out for just 61, the hosts getting over the line thanks to Ian Wade’s unbeaten 22 having been 31-6 in reply.

Stand 2nds suffered a nine-wicket defeat at Roe Green 2nds.

In Division 3W, Unsworth edged home by just one wicket against Clifton 2nds.

Adam Earnshaw’s 4-51 helped bowl out Clifton for 150 before Unsworth held their nerve in reply, Earnshaw also leading the way with the bat, making a patient 36 from 69 balls.

Lancashire League

Greenmount started life in the Lancashire League with a seven-run win at Accrington on Sunday.

Paid man Chesney Hughes, who played county cricket for Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, led the way with 66 as the league new boys posted 238-6 batting first.

Accrington were then restricted to 231-9 in the Division Two clash.

Elsewhere, Daryn Smit won the battle of the century-making professionals as Ramsbottom beat Colne on the opening day of the Lancashire League season.

The prolific South African scored 116 with Colne sub-pro Swapnil Gugale also hitting a ton, but his 112 was not good enough to stop the promoted Division Two champions slipping to a 13-run defeat.

Batting first, Ramsbottom posted 252-6 with Brad Fielding (36), Jacob Clarke (35no) and Keiren Grimshaw (34) all contributing.

Smit then did his bit with the ball, taking 6-56 – including the wicket of Gugale who was well supported by Chris Walton (41) and Lewis Rimmer (40) as Ramsbottom picked up the maximum 12 points in an entertaining Division One clash.