PRESTWICH quickie Chris Humphreys proved chief destroyer as Woodbank were skittled for just 42.

The rain just cleared up in time for a 20-over match to take place at The Heys on Saturday, and Humphreys wasted no time in putting his former club to the sword.

He plundered six wickets for 13 runs, while bowling partner Andy Bradley took for 3-21 as a below-par Woodbank meekly surrendered.

They had been left in dire straits when their top four batsmen were back in the pavilion with just four runs on the board.

Humphreys bowled Damien Stringer round his legs, Bradley bowled Steve Lomas, and Mark Stringer lofted a straightforward catch to wicketkeeper Ian Walker off a wicked Humphreys' delivery.

Bradley netted the key wicket of skipper Neil Ridehaugh but Humphreys again played a big part, clutching onto a superb overhead catch at extra cover.

A mini-revival followed but that was cruelly ended with the score on 28 when Jason Stringer was run out by Alex Blake's swift throw and Bradley's alertness at the stumps.

Marcus McCheyne looked to be the only remaining threat as he wafted at several deliveries, but it summed his team's day up when he did connect, only for Paul Mercer on patrol along the square leg boundary to take a catch as nonchalant as it was excellent.

Only a six from Mustafa interrupted the flow of wickets, and with nine down Prestwich were eager to bowl out the opposition to stand a chance of gaining all five points.

It looked in the bag when number 11, John Lucas, mistimed a shot back to Humphreys who, already in celebratory mode, amazingly dropped the ball.

However, he vented his personal anger the very next ball, delivered at a much sharper pace and crashing into Lucas's off stump.

With the cloudy skies threatening a further burst of rain, Mercer was sent in to plunder quick runs and he struck a six and a four in the first over.

Andy Sensale bowled him as he tried to pull a ball that was not that short, and Sensale also claimed pro Craig Duxbury l.b.w. for a rare failure.

But the game of high drama did not end at 17 for 2, as skipper Steve Orrell pulled a delivery from Sensale to square leg and was caught by the sub fielder, who happened to be his team-mate Blake, substituting for the injured McCheyne.

Sensale took 3-14 but Ian Walker and Mike Hudson competently finished off the job, both unbeaten on 14, and that meant the Heys side gained a further march on their rivals, with second-placed Dukinfield only getting a point against Denton West.

Prestwich are now nine points in front of nearest challengers Woodhouses in the Lancashire County League, but Saturday's clash away at Dukinfield, which will mark the halfway point in the season, will prove another crucial test of their title credentials.

A washout at Woodbank left the second team frustrated on Saturday, but they put in a sterling performance to beat Denton West on Sunday in the quarter-final of the Hulme Cup.

Despite tight 10-over spells from Peter Lorenzini (2-23 ), Colin Higginson (2-24) and Dave Sandiford (1-15), 78 not out from Nigel Williams inspired the home side to a total of 211.

But 53 from Chris Thomas, 47 from John Fiorentini and fluent 73 not out from Andy Taylor saw Prestwich earn a semi-final spot against Cheetham Hill, to be played this Sunday.

A second successive half-century for Gary O'Brien helped Prestwich thirds achieve the double over Thornham, keeping them amongst the challengers for the division two title of the North Manchester League.