June | 2015 | Sale Cricket Club

Sale’s U16 team added to their league-leading five wins, with a comfortable win at Deane & Derby.

After losing the toss, Sale were asked to bowl first – a surprise given the ovehead conditons – and were making early inroads right from the getgo. After being hit for 6 first ball, Dennis Gornall responded by having Patel brilliantly caught at cover by Joe Cannon. Sale’s other opener, Mal Clarke, also got in on the act; Patel’s opening partner was sent back to the shed after being caught at square leg by Dylan Matson for just 3.

After a series of tight overs from both Clarke and Gornall, Gabe Smith was brought on at first change – it immediately paid dividends, as he had Latif caught down the ground by Mal Clarke for just 9, and Deane & Derby were in trouble at 29-3.

James Harrison was the replacement for Clarke, and bowled two superb overs for just two – including one maiden, which triggered the wicket of the dangerous Kashi Raza for 13, caught by Nathan D’Cunha. The latter then came on for Harrison, and Smith continued to bowl from his end as they tore through the Deane & Derby middle and lower order, from 29-3 they were bowled out for just 62 – well inside the 20 overs (with just 13.5 gone).

With a seemingly easy target, Sale’s batsman knew they could take their time – and that they did, scoring at under three runs per over for the first five. Through these overs, though, Sale lost their first two (and only) wickets: Dylan Matson was bowled by the impressive Patel for just one, and William Radcliffe was bowled by spinner Majit for five – balls after stepping down the wicket and swatting him for four over midwicket.

Will Radcliffe hits over the top. Photo by George Franks.

This brought Joe Cannon and Daniel Osborne to the crease – who, as they had been tasked with many times before, had to set about building a solid partnership. That they did, and after a slow start, started to increase the scoring rate. Cannon was more watchful, seeing out the remaining overs from the impressive Patel, while Osborne scored more freely – putting away the bad balls with ease when they came.

Dan Osborne hit an impressive unbeaten 41 from just 41 balls. Photo by George Franks.

With these two at the crease, Sale raced towards their target with few – if any – scares and Osborne hit a poor delivery over extra cover for four, that represented the winning runs and saw Sale record an eight wicket victory, that, in the end, was extremely comfortable.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Gabriel Smith: 4-0-13-4
Nathan D’Cunha: 1.5-0-13-3

Daniel Osborne: 41* (41); 5x4s, 0x6s
Joe Cannon: 10* (33); 1x4s, 0x6s

MATCH SCORECARD: http://bit.ly/1Rx3PEN