Sale moved to within twelve points of the second promotion spot in the Cheshire Country Cricket League 1st XI Division, thanks to a six-wicket win over fellow promotion hopefuls Oulton Park, led by Captain Chris Canning.
With games around the league being rained off, Sale knew that any game played was a good chance to gain ground on rivals – but play was initially in doubt. Luckily, the worst of the weather was avoided and only eight overs were lost; play starting half an hour late. Sale won the toss, and, unsurprisingly, elected to field first.
Both teams were deprived of senior players, and a close game was certainly on the cards. Oulton Park raced to an exceptional start with Martin East and Daniel Leech – their two leading 1st XI run scorers this year – taking advantage of the small boundaries to race to 120-0 from just twenty overs. Sale chopped and changed the bowlers, looking to take the important first wicket, and it was futile until the twenty-third over, when East hammered Lawrence straight to Brooke Guest for 68 (with four sixes and six fours). The score 116-1, Oulton Park still in a good position.
Tyrone Lawrence was the pick of Sale’s bowling attack, returning figures of 15.0-0-53-3. Photo by George Franks.
Number three Ben Tomlinson had faced six balls without scoring when he offered a difficult chance to Brooke Guest at short cover, which was made to look easy by the Australian Under-19 to reduce the home side to 126-2 with twenty overs (and three balls) remaining.
This brought Tom Hyslop to the crease, and he and Leech worked busily to keep the score ticking over as much as possible. This had worked well for four overs, but the hard work was somewhat undone as Danny Leech looked to play Rich Adams down to third man and appeared to get an edge onto his stumps, bowled for 65.
Hyslop and Roberts then survived another four overs together, but Hyslop fell when he tried to pull Lawrence, and was well caught by Mat Spells on the leg-side boundary for 23. Pat Roberts and namesake Eddie were then brought together and the pair had added only seven runs before the former called through for a third run, but the latter was beaten to his stumps by a throw from Luke McCoy and he was run out for just 3. Oulton Park had now lost 64-5 since their opening partnership and Sale were back in the game.
Roberts and Bannister-Wright led a recovery of sorts, adding a further 33, but this was ended when Bannister-Wright tried to hit Lawrence down the ground, and was caught by a diving Rich Adams for 11. Roberts then fell seven balls and five runs later as he was bowled by Ali Barrowman for a quick 40, leaving Oulton Park 218-7 with two overs of their innings left.
Sam Blandford was out trying to scoop, and quick running between the wickets lifted Oulton Park to a final score of 235-8 in their 46 overs.
Sale would therefore have to chase down 236 at a rate of 5.13 RPO. The chase got off to a horror start, as Mat Spells was caught at close range by Tom Hyslop off only the twelfth ball of the innings for a duck, leaving Sale 2-1.
Tyrone Lawrence joined Brooke Guest and they began to play ever more fluently – especially Guest. This, though, was abruptly brought to an end with Sale 58-1; Guest was run out by Pat Roberts after a calamitous mix-up for 40 (with three sixes and three fours).
Brooke Guest continued his excellent form for Sale, scoring 43. Photo by George Franks.
Luke McCoy had made four when he mistimed a pull from a short Blandford delivery, and skied a catch to sub Ben Kettle (on for Martin East, who had split his webbing just balls before). From a somewhat comfortable position just overs ago, Sale were now looking in a shaky position at 63-3.
Lawrence was joined by Chris Canning, who was playing with an injured foot, and had a very observable limp. He and Lawrence began to seriously up the run-rate, with Canning especially taking advantage of the short-leg side boundary. The pair had added 97 at six and a half an over, and Canning had just passed a fifty from 44 balls (with twenty four coming from a single Tomlinson over) when Lawrence tried to hit Hyslop into the neighbouring fields, but missed the boundary by inches and was caught high by Ashwell for what would turn out to be a vital 47 (striking at 70, with three fours and three sixes).
Canning, on 59*, was then joined by Paul Battersby at the crease, and, after the latter had seen off the three remaining balls of the Hyslop over, took 24 off a Matt Parkinson over – sending the innings run rate up to six and his personal score to 84 from just fifty six balls.
Chris Canning’s century (121*) contained eleven fours, eight sixes and came from only seventy-six balls. Photo by George Franks.
Battersby did not trouble the scoring – bowled by Hyslop for a six-ball duck. With Sale 185-5, Rob Greenhough came to the crease and Canning, initially at least, slowed his scoring down; with 51 needed from fifteen overs, wickets were the only way Sale could be stopped from winning the game.
After Canning scampered a two to complete his hundred (from 66 balls), he then launched his seventh six to bring the runs required below twenty. Greenhough was bowled by Hyslop for 8, although the partnership he shared with captain Cannning was a vital 37.
Ali Barrowman managed to stave off six balls, and Canning faced Hyslop with the score 237-6. Second ball, he hit a six straight down the ground, and, after a dot, followed with two consecutive fours to send Sale to a vital win, seeing them gain on Grappenhall and Oulton Park, whilst staying up with Didsbury (who were earlier winners at Tattenhall).
Match Highlights
Martin East: 68 (72); 6x4s, 4x6s
Daniel Leech: 65 (86); 5x4s, 2x6s
Patrick Roberts: 40 (47); 3x4s, 1×6
Brooke Guest: 43 (52); 3x4s, 3x6s
Tyrone Lawrence: 47 (64); 3x4s, 3x6s
Chris Canning: 121* (76); 11x4s, 8x6s
Tyrone Lawrence: 15.0-0-53-3
Tom Hyslop: 11.5-2-68-3
Match scorecard: http://bit.ly/29r7GVU
Sale Cricket Club 