Cricket: Prestatyn start great escape

Jun 10 2009 by Dave Jones, Denbigh Visitor

giblin hails new belief

PRESTATYN (21) 204-4 FLEETWOOD HESKETH (6) 203-3 dec

LIVERPOOL COMPETITION PREMIER DIVISION

HAS the great escape begun? Prestatyn skipper Steve Giblin firmly believes so.

After a hugely frustrating start to the season which failed to deliver a win in nine starts, the seasiders finally broke their duck on Saturday with a thoroughly convincing six-wicket victory over Fleetwood Hesketh at Beach Close.

Injured Giblin watched proudly from the sidelines as a team inspired by the debut of Indian all-rounder Maripuri Suresh produced a performance anything but resembling a bottom-of-the-table outfit.

While Prestatyn remain 11 points adrift at the basement, and some 35 points from safety, what looked like a potential lost cause has been given a new lease of life.

“I’m relieved, but we thoroughly deserved this,” said Giblin. “This can be the turning point of our season.

“The lads have been knocking on the door for the last few weeks. We had New Brighton on the ropes and should have beaten Newton-le-Willows.

“We’re bottom of the league but we’re not the worst side in it. The belief is here that we can turn our season around.”

Constant rain fell at Prestatyn on Saturday but never quite bad enough to halt proceedings permanently.

After an hour’s delay, Fleetwood won the toss and elected to bat. The visitors chalked up a more than decent 203-3 declared off 44.3 overs with a stand of 117 between Derek Sykes (90) and Neil Rimmer (86) the main feature.

These were hardly ideal conditions for Suresh to take his bow in British cricket, yet the spinner bowled tidily to claim 2-38 off 14.3 overs. Given 39 overs to make 204, Prestatyn faced an uphill task.

Opener David Harris went early, but then Gareth Boughey formed a crucial second-wicket partnership of 95 with the equally in-form Russell Walker.

Left-hander Walker struck 53 before departing with the total on 105, then Boughey and Suresh added another 63 prior to the Indian being bowled for 16.

When Boughey finally went for an outstanding 95, the hosts were just 32 from victory and Darren Hughes (21 not out) and Mitch van Wyk (11 no) saw them to 204-4 with 16 balls to spare.

Giblin has no doubt about the impact the arrival of Suresh has had.

“Having the pro here has had a tremendous effect on the lads,” said the skipper. “Today’s win was all about quality batting. Russell Walker is in the form of his life, Gareth Boughey batted brilliantly, the pro’s given the place a real lift.”

This Saturday Prestatyn visit mid-table Hightown (1pm start).