U16: Sale vs. Radcliffe [07/07/2015]

Posted by Josh Cannon

Sale’s U16 team suffered their second loss in as many weeks – this time in the Salford Youth Cricket Association U16 Cup, though they still remain top of the competition.

Deprived of regular opener Joe Cannon, captain Dan Osborne won the toss and elected to bat under gloomy conditions at Sale. The decision seemed vindicated – at least initially – as openers Sam Battersby and Will Radcliffe got Sale off to a fast start; bad balls were put away with ease and the two looked to be in little trouble against the Radcliffe bowlers. However, the runs started to dry up and Will Radcliffe was caught by Sam Morrow off the bowling of Luke Entwistle – on at first change – for a useful 22 off just twenty-seven balls, consisting of four boundaries.

Captain Dan Osborne entered with Sale well placed on 43-1 after only 6 overs. However, after adding only 14 with Sam Battersby, the latter was trapped LBW – again by Luke Entwistle – and had to depart for 20, leaving Sale 57-2 as they approached the half-way mark of the innings.

Sam Battersby played nicely for his 20. Photo by George Franks.

Only three more had been added when Tom Gill, in at four, attempted the big shot off James Thornhill and was caught by Trent Turret for 2, and Sale were suddenly in trouble at 60-3. This trouble was even more pronounced just balls later, when, after adding 9 with Mal Clarke, Dan Osborne tried to advance down the ground to James Thornhill, and was stumped by wicket keeper Jake Lockett for just 11 – only the second time he had been out for the U16 team this year.

Sale were teetering at 69-4, and it was 69-5 seconds later as Dennis Gornall was bowled first ball by James Thornhill. Number 7 Adam Holland had added just four with Mal Clarke, before he, too, was out for a duck: bowled by Ben Austin after facing just four balls.

Sale were in dire straights at 73-6, and needed Mal Clarke to pull of something special to give them anything to bowl at. He had added 12 with Gabe Smith, in what could have been the partnership to give Sale hope – but Clarke was bowled by Entwistle for a very patient 10 to leave Sale 85-7.

Gabe Smith and James Harrison tried to rotate the strike, but close fields and tight bowling from Radcliffe enabled them to only put on a further two, before Harrison was run out of the last ball of the innings, leaving Smith stranded on 6*. Sale had posted a score of just 89 – certainly below par, and one that would have disappointed the team, given the start that Radcliffe and Battersby had given them.

Sale knew that their only real hope was early wickets – and they got off to exactly the start they needed, as Radcliffe opener Jordan Booth set off for a single that was never there, and was subsequently run out, as Adam Holland threw to ‘keeper Daniel Osborne, sending him back for a three-ball duck.

However, much to Sale’s anguish, further wickets did not fall – and opener Jake Lockett and number three Callum Malcolm set about scoring the required runs in a calm and collected manner; the bad balls were put away and the good balls were just defended.

A second wicket eventually came, as Malcolm was bowled by Dennis Gornall for 20 off thirty-two balls with a four. By now, however, barring a miracle, the game was all but over. Radcliffe were 38 with 8 wickets left and in total control.

Sale kept shuffling the bowling around, desperate to find a flurry of wickets – but they never came, despite some close calls and the winning runs were hit off Tom Gill to give Radcliffe an eight-wicket win with more than two overs left.

It was a tough – but comprehensive and deserved loss – for Sale, who never got going again after the wickets of both openers. They still sit top, however, in the cup and are well in the mix to win the competition.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Luke Entwistle: 4-012-3
James Thornhill: 4-0-9-3

Jake Lockett: 38* (46); 5x4s, 0x6

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