1st XI: Sale vs. Cheadle Hulme [27/08/2016]

Sale kept up their hopes of promotion to the ECB Premier League with a vital 7-wicket victory against Cheadle Hulme.

Winning the toss, Sale captain Chris Canning had no hesitation in inserting the opposition to bat. Having moved the team to fifteen from eleven overs – a steady start, Wellings called through and ran for a single – but his partner, Qasim Ali, stood almost motionless at the non-striker’s end and the captain was easily run out by a Dixon throw for just four.

The number three was overseas Talor Williams, who immediately survived a strong LBW shout from Rick Halkon. This would not cost Sale much, though, as Williams was later bowled off the inside edge by Halkon in the eighteenth over for nine – leaving Cheadle Hulme 33-2. This then changed to 33-3 next ball, Rick Halkon had Chris Beckley LBW for a golden duck to end the eighteenth over. Three wickets became four in Halkon’s next over, with ‘keeper Malik dismissed LBW for just one.

Qasim Ali offered a chance to Nathan D’Cunha at fine leg, with the resulting drop adding two runs to Cheadle Hulme. Next ball, though, he wasn’t so lucky as he laced the ball right into the hands of Tyrone Lawrence at midwicket to further deepen the visitors’ trouble at 54-5, departing for what would be a team-high score of 31.

Sohaib Assi, at number six, played some expansive shots during a fluid 22 but was soon out – with the team score 68 – as he played and missed Richard Adams, trying to hit to the leg side. Alex Read, in at seven, then tried to play Rich Adams through the midwicket region, but he only sliced a simple catch to Barrowman running backwards towards point – only a further run added to the total.

Tom Balderson tried to hook a short ball from Barrowman, but a leading edge was superbly caught by a diving Brooke Guest at Gully. Balderson out for a duck, Cheadle Hulme 81-8.

Rikk Harrison attempted to hit out, but he was seen by Ben Watkin; the ball fired in at the stumps and Harrison was bowled for thirteen. Juniors Archie Beckley and Shahab Ali added only three for the final wicket partnership before the former was caught at first slip by a diving Paul Battersby. Cheadle Hulme had finished on 86-10 in just forty overs.

Sale, and Brooke Guest in particular, started what would appear to be a routine chase in blistering form – the Australian U19 took ten off the first four balls, including a thunderous pull… but the start was curtailed as he played on to Talor Williams, Sale reaching 14-1 from the first over.

Mat Spells and Tyrone Lawrence set about chasing down the target as quickly as possible, and, as their partnership reached 58, the result was never in doubt. Lawrence – on 32 – first chipped Alex Read to Tom Balderson at mid-off, and with six more added, Mat Spells then hit Tom Balderson to Archie Beckley on 28.

At 74-3, Ian Dixon was joined by Chris Canning and the previous wicket was to be the last match action of any note, as the Dixon pushed Keith Wellings into the offside for an easy single, completing a comprehensive victory for Sale.

1st XI: Sale vs. Weaverham [06/08/16]

Sale maintained their push for promotion to the Vivio Cheshire Country Cricket League ECB Premier League with a vital win at home to fellow hopefuls Weaverham, maintaining pace with second-position Grappenhall.

On an unusually green pitch, Weaverham made the unusual chance of opting to bat first.

They made an excellent start – reaching 33-0 from the first ten overs, thanks largely to Kevin Waterhouse, 26. This unbroken stand, however, was not to continue; Jake Lightfoot – having made a very patient 5 – tried to force some runs, but only skied a catch to Luke McCoy running back from extra cover to leave the visiting side 34-1.

Kevin Waterhouse (37) helped get Weaverham off to a good start. Photo by George Franks.

Then, facing only his second ball, Weaverham captain Ian Eaton tried to cut a ball that was far too close to him, and edged through to Chris Canning who completed a simple catch. Eaton out for a second-ball duck, Weaverham 34-2.

Waterhouse was then joined by Wilden Cornwall, and the two began to build a partnership quickly. Waterhouse survived a close stumping appeal on 33, but he could not add many more to his total, as he didn’t quite time a ball from Tyrone Lawrence and Brooke Guest took a superb high, running catch to send him back for 37, ending the 27 partnership with Cornwall. Weaverham 61-3. Ryan Simm had made just one from twelve when he swatted a ball from Tyrone straight down the ground to Ali Rizvi, leaving Weaverham 68-4 approaching twenty overs. From a very good start, Sale were now right back in the game.

Ian Dixon then delivered with the huge wicket of Wilden Cornwall, pinned LBW for a fluent 26. Sale followed up the wicket with some tight bowling to leave Weaverham in a precarious position on 89-5 at the halfway mark.

 

Ian Dixon trapped Wilden Cornwall – Weaverham’s leading run scorer in 2016 – LBW for 26. Photo by George Franks.

Alex Nash and James Lewis steadily rebuilt the innings, adding 29 before Nash edged Ali Barrowman to the ‘keeper for a composed 17, the total 111-6 from 34 overs. Just as a partnership was again beginning to develop – this time between Lewis and Jamieson – the former, on 31, edged straight through to Canning’s gloves – again off the bowling of Dixon – to make the score 137-7 with nine overs remaining. Kev Douglas was then bowled second ball (the second in three balls for Ian Dixon), 137-8.

George McCormick and Jamieson tried to ensure that Weaverham would bat out the overs, but the temptation of the big hit eventually became too much for McCormick who skied a ball from Guest, and was caught brilliantly by Joe Cannon fighting off the sun and holding on as he fell backwards. Matt Jamieson tried to hit the first ball of the last over through midwicket, but missed the ball whilst down on one knee to be bowled by Tyrone Lawrence (who finished with figures of 5-39) as Weaverham were all out for 157 in 49.1 overs.

 

Joe Cannon completed a high catch, running back into the sun to dismiss George McCormick. Photo by George Franks.

Sale’s chase nearly got off to a horror start; Brooke Guest dropped at backward point whilst still on nought. The Sale man was to make Weaverham pay dearly for this reprieve: Guest added 72, Spells added 29 and the two brought up their century opening partnership (105, to be exact) as Guest hit a huge six to midwicket.

The runs continued to flow for Sale, as Guest and Spells raced along to 135. However, with Guest on 90 and looking as comfortable as ever, he inexplicably missed a delivery from Stuart Hayes and was bowled – ending a brilliant knock of seventy-seven balls, with eleven fours and two sixes.

 

Brooke Guest made a rapid 90, further increasing his lead as the league’s top run scorer. Photo by George Franks.

With just three runs needed and the result all but decided, Tyrone Lawrence hit Wilden Cornwall straight to Matt Jamieson at midwicket. But, the wicket was to be inconsequential, as Luke McCoy called through for a quick single, and Sale finished 158-2 inside thirty overs to complete an eight wicket win.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Tyrone Lawrence: 14.1-3-39-5
Ian Dixon: 15-4-36-3

Kevin Waterhouse: 37 (41); 8x4s, 0x6s
James Lewis: 31 (66); 0x4s, 0x6s
Brooke Guest: 90 (77); 11x4s, 2x6s
Mat Spells: 44 (88); 4x4s, 0x6s

MATCH SCORECARD: http://bit.ly/2baSbmw

 

 

1st XI: Sale vs. Didsbury [24/07/16]

Sale suffered a disappointing loss to 1st XI Division One leaders Didsbury, knocking Sale down to fifth position – now thirty three points from the second promotion spot.

The day had already got off to a better start for Didsbury before a ball had even been bowled; Didsbury won the toss and elected to bowl first – the much preferred (and much more successful) formula for a win.

Although very early days, Sale had got off to good start; reaching fifteen inside the fourth over. This start, though, was shortlived as Brooke Guest tried to pull and edged onto his stumps for just six.

Things then took a turn for the worse when Tyrone Lawrence looked to leave a ball from Richard White, but it appeared that the ball glanced the bat and the way through and was easily taken by ‘keeper Sam Leech. Lawrence was dismissed for just four, and Sale had lost their two best batsman for the total gain of only twenty seven runs.

Sale desperately needed a partnership between Mat Spells and the new batsman, Luke McCoy. They indeed did get one, as the pair put on fifty in good time and looked to be comfortable. However, just four balls after the halfway mark of the innings, McCoy tried to thrash Simon Normanton away – but the ball only was sliced to Tom Warren, who took a comfortable catch at point, McCoy gone for thirty six with Sale 83-3.

Spells was then joined by Chris Canning – still recovering from injury – and the pair added twenty three, but this partnership was ended when Canning ran down the wicket to Matt Gregson and was stumped by Leech for fifteen, leaving Sale 106-4 with fifteen overs and two balls remaining in the innings.

Ian Dixon then tried to hit Gregson down the ground, but only succeeded in offering a simple chance to Tim Hughes at mid-on, and was then followed back to the pavilion by Mat Spells, as he tried to slog-sweep Michael Taylor but popped up a simple catch to Nick Anderson at mid-on – the Sale men falling for five and forty four, respectively, to leave Sale 119-6.

Ben Watkin was then bowled by Taylor for six, and Paul Battersby skied a pull off Normanton to Hamza Ahmed at square leg – leaving Sale in real trouble at 135-8 with 45.1 overs played.

Taz Tharshan struck the ball right at Normanton, inexplicably starting off a run; the throw from Normanton easily beating him home, Tharshan gone for only two.

Last pair Rob Greenhough and Richard Adams tried to add as many runs as they can, but could only manage five more to the total – taking Sale to 142 – before the former was pinned LBW by Normanton (who finished with figures of 3-44), with Sale taking only forty eight overs, meaning that if necessary, Didsbury could have fifty two overs to chase their target.

Sale knew that taking ten Didsbury wickets would likely be the only way to get a positive result from the match, and some early pressure led to the first wicket in the sixth over: with the score on seventeen, Nick Anderson, on seven, clipped a low full-toss from Taz Tharshan to Richard Adams at square leg – who hung on to a high chance.

Tharshan then struck again – just five runs lafer, as the other opener, Tim Hughes, was caught off the edge by Chris Canning for fourteen. This left Didsbury 23-2, with Sale in the ascendancy.

Sale built pressure on Simon Normanton and Matt Marfani, the Didsbury number three and four, including twenty nine dots in a row to the former. But, try as they might, Sale could not force the further wickets they needed, and a brilliant unbroken partnership of one-hundred and twenty saw Didsbury to, in the end, a comfortable eight-wicket win.

The 1st XI will look to keep the pressure on the top teams next week, as they travel to Davenham – whom they beat by five wickets in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Simon Normanton: 14.0-2-44-3

Mat Spells: 44 (122); 0x4s, 0x6s
Luke McCoy: 36 (57); 4x4s, 0x6s
Simon Normanton: 60* (87); 8x4s, 0x6s
Matt Marfani: 59* (85); 8x4s, 1×6

MATCH SCORECARD: http://bit.ly/2ai7331

1st XI: Sale vs. Warrington [16/07/16]

Sale climbed to third in the Vivio Cheshire Country Cricket League 1st XI Divison 1, thanks to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Warrington.

Meeting for the first time this year (the first fixture was cancelled due to rain), Sale won the toss and, sticking to the recent formula, elected to field first. With first placed Disdsbury playing second placed Oulton Park, Sale knew that a win would enable them to gain ground on at least one team above – and this is exactly what they did.

Sale were in the ascendancy almost immediately; Mike Rudd well caught by a diving Brooke Guest down the legside for a duck inside the fifth over, leaving Warrington 5-1. Only thirteen runs were then scored in the next ten overs, before the other opener, Mal Agar, tried to hit Tyrone Lawrence away and was caught at the second attempt after a juggle by Chris Canning in the slips for seven.

This brought Will Fleetwood to the crease, who, facing only his third ball, tried to sweep Rick Halkon behind square. Initially, it looked as though the shot had worked, but Luke McCoy made an unbelievable catch running, diving and somehow holding on – sending the number four back for just one.

Warrington had reached 19-3 in fifteen overs and were struggling early on. This struggle was then compounded four balls later, as Adam Green went back to a Rick Halkon delivery, but was pinned LBW for thirteen. Warrington were 23-4 and desperately in need of a partnership.

Rick Halkon’s three wickets helped restrict Warrington to 121-10. Photo by George Franks.

This partnership materialised somewhat; captain Rich Heaney and overseas Huw Stone added twenty-four in about ten overs. But, as the runs began to dry up after accurate bowling, Ali Rizvi made the vital breakthrough of Heaney, bowled for a busy eleven. The same then happened again; Stone and James Rudd adding twenty four. But, as the partnership started to develop, Rudd tried to hit Rich Adams and sliced a catch to Luke McCoy running back towards point and had to depart for six, leaving Warrington 71-6 from 36 overs.

Rich Adams was responsible for breaking a developing partnership for Warrington, finishing with figures of 9.0-0-31-1. Photo by George Franks.

Twenty three had this time been added between Stone and James Lewis, when the former clipped Ben Watkin to the running Chris Canning at midwicket, who completed a simple catch to dismiss the Warrington top-scorer for a crucial fourty that had at least given his team hope.

The final three wickets then fell quickly, as Brad McIntosh skied Watkin to Tyrone Lawrence – who took a good, high catch – for a quickfire 11, and then James Lewis advanced down the wicket to Rick Halkon, but missed the ball and was bowled for an excellent twenty-two. The final wicket then fell in calamitous circumstances, as number eleven Chai Gadepalli and number ten Ashley Scholes had a horrible mix-up and the latter was easily run out from a combination of Mal Clarke and Brooke Guest. All told, Warrington had been bowled out for 121 in 45.5 overs.

Sale would therefore need 122 in 54 overs to win – meaning that batting out the overs would almost guarantee a win. Guest – who made it ten consecutive games scoring thirty or more – and Spells started confidently, motoring on at about 6 runs per over for the first ten overs.

Brooke Guest continued his excellent form for Sale, scoring 54. Photo by George Franks.

The runs then began to subside somewhat, and Mat Spells was caught on the edge of the 3o-yard circle by Gadepalli off the bowling of Brad McIntosh for seventeen. At 70-1 from fourteen overs, Sale were almost certainly on their way to victory.

Guest and Lawrence had moved the score on to 89, when Guest was clean bowled by James Rudd for an excellent 54. Though he would not be there to see his team home, he had all but led his team to victory.

Lawrence and Luke McCoy looked to score the required runs as quickly as possible, and some big hits eventually brought Sale to their target inside twenty five overs – with Lawrence finishing 30* and McCoy 18*. It was Sale’s fourth consecutive win, and took them to within twelve points of a promotion spot – trailing Grappenhall and Didsbury, with the latter visiting Sale next week.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Rick Halkon: 13.5-2-35-3
Huw Stone: 40 (74), 1×4
Brooke Guest: 54 (61), 5x4s; 1×6
Tyrone Lawrence: 30* (38), 4x4s

MATCH SCORECARD: http://bit.ly/29RbAu4

1st XI: Oulton Park vs. Sale [09/07/16]

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

 

1st XI: Tattenhall vs. Sale [02/07/16]

Sale jumped up to fifth place in the Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League 1st XI Divison One, with an emphatic six-wicket victory over bottom-placed Tattenhall.

Electing to bowl first with rain around, Sale had almost instant vindication as opener Josh Harding was caught at 1st slip by Chris Canning off the bowling of Tyrone Lawrence for just seven. Henry Dobson – Tattenhall’s leading run scorer – and Dylan Reeves then tried to consolidate, aiming to keep wickets in hand for the later overs. The plan had worked for nearly twenty overs, but, with the score on 45, Reeves was bowled by Ali Barrowman for a patient thirteen.

Dobson was then joined by Koppack – forming arguably Tattenhall’s best batting pair – and the two had only been together for eight balls before Dobson hit the ball straight to Lawrence and called Koppack through for a single, but the throw to Guest was there well ahead of the Tattenhall man and he was run out without troubling the scores – Tattenhall now 45-3.

With the dot balls building and the thirty over mark approaching – just fifty-two runs had been scored – Dobson inexplicably hit the ball straight to Tyrone Lawrence and, despite looking relatively untroubled, was forced to depart for twenty-nine.

The next two wickets contributed only one run to the score, before Spraggs was bowled by Barrowman and overseas Siebert then chipped Richard Adams to Canning at midwicket, for one and a duck, respectively. This left the score 53-6, and only a further lone run was added before Ryan Spann was pinned LBW by Barrowman for a single.

Ali Barrowman was the pick of the Sale bowlers. Photo by George Franks.

At 54-7, Tattenhall were in danger of a tiny score, but captain Owen Williamson came to the rescue somewhat; his 26 (with three fours and two sixes) helped lift his team to 93, before he ballooned one high into the air, and was caught by Luke McCoy off the bowling of Tyrone Lawrence. Ben Gibbon then was stumped off Tyrone Lawrence for 13, and Alan Brock hit a four straight down the ground, but it only was enough to lift Tattenhall to 99 all out.

With rain in the air, Sale’s openers Mat Spells and Brooke Guest set about their task of scoring the runs required as quickly as possible – taking twenty-six runs off the first four overs.

The pair had added 58 in quick time, before Mat Spells walked down the pitch to Dave Shewring and was stumped for an excellent 33 (coming off just 35 balls, with five fours). Tyrone Lawrence was then pinned LBW very next ball by the same bowler, and, with storm clouds approaching, Sale were 58-2; forty-two away from their target.

Mat Spells helped to get Sale off to a quick start. Photo by George Franks.

Guest and McCoy briskly took Sale towards their target, and two successive fours from Guest took him to 46, needing a boundary to seal both his fifty and the Sale win… but he was bowled by Dobson, as the rain started to really fall.

McCoy then fell first ball of the next over, for 17 – caught by Henry Dobson after a brief juggle, as the rain came down even harder. Dixon, though, took Sale over the line as he pulled Siebert to the sqaure-leg boundary, taking Sale to a vital six-wicket victory with not a moment to spare!

Ian Dixon hit his first ball off Siebert for four, sending Sale to victory just seconds before the rain came down. Photo by George Franks.

Match highlights: A. Barrowman 10.0-6-7-3; T. Lawrence 10.0-3-15-3; M. Spells 33 (35); B. Guest 46 (54)

Match scorecard: http://bit.ly/29bJ5bh

1st XI: Sale vs. Oulton Park [23/04/16]

Posted by Josh Cannon

Sale’s 2016 Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League was off to a disappointing start, as they were comprehensively beaten by Oulton Park at Dane Road.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Sale got off to a cautious start; openers Mat Spells and Brooke Guest – making his first appearance of the season – took just nine runs from the first ten overs.

The first wicket fell with Sale on 24, when Mat Spells was pinned LBW by Andrew Hards – with the ball appearing to keep a little bit low – for thirteen. No further runs had been added to the total when Tyrone Lawrence slapped a ball, again from Andrew Hards,  straight down the ground to Mark Latham at mid-off, who took a sharp catch down low. After a solid start, Sale were somewhat wobbling at 24-2 from twenty overs.

Brooke Guest, making his first appearance for Sale, made 28 before he was bowled by Andrew Hards. Photo by George Franks.

Balls later, Sale were 28-3 when Luke McCoy took a wild swipe at a Hards delivery and was caught in the slip cordon for a duck. Whilst Dixon and Guest were consolidating and rebuilding, the former was a given a reprieve when he was dropped on 6 by Oulton Park ‘keeper Pat Roberts, the partnership at 17. A further four had been added to the total before Guest was bowled by Hards’ third-to-last ball, to reduce Sale to 49-4.

Dixon and Dan Halkon came together and soon passed their fifty partnership, whilst also taking Sale past their team hundred, with eleven overs remaining. However, with the score at one-hundred and three, Dan Halkon went for a cut shot, but only managed to edge into the gloves of Pat Roberts from the bowling of Sam Blandford to give Oulton Park their fifth wicket of the innings. With fifteen then added between Dixon and Canning, Dixon tried a huge sweep off Blandford and missed the ball entirely, out LBW for 33. Sale were now 118-6

Dan Halkon (33) put on fity-four with Ian Dixon

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals for Sale, and soon after Rob Grant was run out being sent back by Chris Canning for a duck, Canning himself was out for a breezy fifteen – bowled by Blandford.

Sale, with six overs left, were 129-8 and struggling to bat out their full allocation. Blandford soon had another, his fourth, when Barrowman was bowled for five, and then he had his fifth – when Taz Tharshan was bowled first ball. Sale were all out for 134 in 45.5 overs – meaning that Oulton Park would have 54 overs to chase down 135 to win.

Oulton Park started confidently, with Martin East taking a run-a-ball seventeen to help Oulton Park take twenty one from the first five overs. The scoring abated over the next five overs somewhat, as only nine more runs were scored – but the two openers remained together.

Numerous bowling changes were called upon by captain Canning – but neither had the desired effect, and East went past his fifty. However, he only could add four more before he tried to pull Ali Barrowman, but only managed to hit it high and into the hands of Luke McCoy on the leg side, making the score 93-1.

The game was all but over when Sale got their second wicket to reduce Oulton Park to 119-2, as Tom Hyslop was bowled for twelve by Rick Halkon. Halkon then picked up another as Pat Roberts was adjudged LBW for two.

This, though, was the only further wicket Sale would get, as Danny Leech saw Oulton Park home to a comfortable seven-wicket victory with a superb innings of 58*.

Sale 1st XI 2016 –  (back row) Brooke Guest, Ali Barrowman, Taz Tharshan, Dan Halkon, Luke McCoy, Rick Halkon, Ian Dixon, Rob Grant, (front row) Tyrone Lawrence, Chris Canning, Mat Spells. Photo by George Franks.

Sale will look to pick up their first win of the season next week, when they travel to newly-promoted Warrington.

The 2nd XI also lost their first game of the season, as they were beaten at Upton by six wickets. The 3rd XI start their campaign in the 3rd XI Premier Division tomorrow, as they travel to Didsbury.

U16: Sale vs. Radcliffe [29/07/15]

Posted by Josh Cannon

Sale’s U16 team brought home the club’s third trophy of the year – and the U16 team’s second – as they thrashed Radcliffe to complete the Salford Youth Cricket Association U16 2015 Legaue and Cup double.

Despite missing regular bowlers Mal Clarke and Dennis Gornall, captain Dan Osborne had no qualms about bowling first, upon winning the toss.

The decision paid off in the second over, when opener Jordan Booth looped a delivery from Tom Kellett to Adam Holland at midwicket, who took a simple catch to dismiss him for just five and give Sale an early inroad with Radcliffe 6-1.

Lockett and Malcolm – Radcliffe’s number two and three respectively – had added nineteen runs in three overs and were starting to build a solid partnership when Lockett was unfortunate to be bowled by Gill off his pad for seven at just under a run a ball, leaving Radcliffe 25-2, with a quarter of the innings gone.

Noah Duffy came in at four and added a blistering 12 with Malcolm – of which Duffy scored eleven – including a six and a four, but he was out just an over later as, on his seventh ball, he smashed the ball to cover, where Joe Cannon took a sharp catch to remove him and further reduce Radcliffe; now 37-3.

Joe Cannon continued his good form with the ball. Photo by George Franks.

Ryan Williams and captain Callum Malcolm tried to start a partnership that would enable them to rebuild the innings, and the two had slowly and carefully added nine before the temptation of the big shot grew too much for Williams, who hit a short one from Joe Cannon straight down the throat of Gabe Smith at deep backward square leg. Williams out for a very patient four – leaving Radcliffe in trouble at 46-4 with just over half the innings remaining.

This trouble was seriously compounded as Radcliffe then lost a further three wickets (four in total) for the addition of no runs to the scorecard. They had gone from the verge of trouble at 46-4 to total trouble, at 46-7. Firstly, Luke Entwistle was bowled by Joe Cannon trying to cut first ball, and, after Ben Lloyd Slater survived the hat-trick ball, captain Callum Malcolm was out – this time bowled by Gabe Smith – as he tried to charge down the track for 15, which was, at that time, Radcliffe’s highest score of the innings. Trent Turrel was then bowled second ball by Gabe Smith to make the score 46-7 and almost certainly condemn Radcliffe to defeat, barring a catastrophe from Sale’s perspective.

Cannon and Smith were then taken off by Sale captain Dan Osborne, which allowed Radcliffe’s Ben Lloyd Slater and Ben Austin to rebuild the innings somewhat and take them to a more respectable score. After Paddy Crump Raiswell’s over had been taken for eighteen, the returning Joe Cannon, in his last over, got the breakthrough Sale were looking for, as Ben Lloyd Slater offered a simple return catch to Cannon himself and he was forced to depart for an excellent twenty-six (Radcliffe’s highest score), with the score 92-8.

After Austin and Thornhill had added fourteen together, Gabe Smith had Austin and number eleven Case gone – and so closed the Radcliffe innings – as Austin first steered the ball straight into the hands of Tom Kellett at backward square leg and the Radcliffe man had to leave for a rapid twenty-five, coming off just 17 balls with three fours. With one wicket left, Radcliffe were 106, but this was soon 106 all out as Smith bowled a straight delivery that Case missed – dismissing the number eleven for a first ball duck and ending Radcliffe’s innings on a below-par 106-10 in exactly eighteen overs.

Sale celebrate bowling Radcliffe out for just 106. Photo by George Franks.

With a below-par score posted by Radcliffe, Sale knew they could take their time in the chase, and that they needed to make sure they kept wickets in hand – as losing wickets would likely be the only way they could lose the match.

As has often been the case this year, Sam Battersby took on the more attacking role, whilst Joe Cannon played a more quiet role, making sure there would always be a set batsman should his partner fall.

After taking ten from the first over, both batsmen began to settle into their roles and the partnership had added 48 – of which Battersby had scored the majority – when Battersby hit a short ball from Luke Entwistle straight into the hands of Callum Malcolm on the boundary, who made no mistake and forced Battersby to depart for twenty four, with four fours in his 27-ball knock.

Cannon was joined by Dan Osborne, as the two looked to steer Sale home as quickly as possible and with as little worry as possible. At first, they were content with taking the singles and reducing the runs required ball-by-ball. Soon, though, Dan Osborne took the initiative and began to put his foot down, taking the majority of the 22 runs off the bowling of Ben Austin’s solitary over, putting his second life to good use after he was dropped on the boundary by Callum Malcolm.

With one run needed, Osborne stroked it for a single – which Joe Cannon came through to accept – and with it, Sale had beaten Radcliffe and taken top position in the Salford Youth Cricket Association U16 2015 competition, overtaking Monton & Weaste, as Sale ended the season with their fourth consecutive win, and league-leading seventh win out of ten games.

Sale CC U16: Salford Youth Cricket Association U16 League and Cup Double Winners 2015

1st XI: Sale vs. Middlewich [25/07/15]

Posted by Josh Cannon

Sale kept the Cheshire Country Cricket Legaue 1st XI Divison 1 promotion hopes well and truly alive with an 8-wicket demolition of Middlewich, who left Sale without any points.

Middlewich had survived the opening five overs with relative ease after being inserted into bat having lost the toss, but gifted Sale a wicket when Leandro du Toit – after some early attacking shots – skipped down the wicket to Rick Halkon, but missed the ball completely and offered a simple stumping to Chris Canning. The Middlewich overseas was out for 16, and Middlewich were 19-1.

Just four more runs had been added before number three Andrew Davies was pinned LBW by Halkon for just 2 to leave Middlewich 23-2.

Williams continued to hold firm at one end, but at the other end, number four Kieran Boyle had faced 13 consecutive dot balls and the run rate was slowly dropping. This did for Boyle, who tried to hit Halkon through point, but missed the ball and was bowled for a duck with the score now 29-3.

Williams and captain Nick Gill began to rebuild the innings, and they had added a solid 38 together – at an ever-increasing run rate, when Williams inexplicably slapped Halkon to Ben Watkin at midwicket, who took the catch at the second attempt to send Williams back for a seventy-three ball 33, with three fours and leave Middlewich 67-4.

Eight more had been added – all by Gill – when he flung his bat at a wide one from Ali Barrowman and was smartly caught by Jon Hall at gully who did well to hold on to a fast moving chance for a patient 21 to put Middlewich in trouble at 75-5 with 20 overs remaining.

Kristian Clowes tried to hit Rick Halkon out of the ground, and a miscue while attempting this dropped in for a single, bringing Houghton on strike, who was then bowled for just 2 to give Halkon his 5-for and leave Middlewich in real trouble at 83-6.

Rick Halkon finished the day with astounding figures of 9-32, including a hat-trick. Photo by George Franks.

Halkon then had his 6th, as Clowes tried an almighty sweep, but only succeed in edging the ball into the gloves of a very grateful Chris Canning to depart for just 5 – a big wicket for Sale, given the damage that Clowes can cause if he comes off.

Soon after he had seven wickets in the match, as Gary Zimmer was bowled for a duck to leave Middlewich 88-8 with fifteen overs left. This became his eigth wicket immediately after, as Stubbs was LBW first ball to leave Halkon needed one more wicket for a hat-trick, nine wickets in the innings and to send Middlewich back for a below par score.

Halkon did indeed have nine for the match,  and completed the rare event of taking a hat-trick,  when number 11 Sam Brothers was bowled for a golden duck.

Middlewich were all out for 88 and Rick  Halkon had unbelievable match figures of 9-32, including a hat trick, in 17.3 overs – the best figures of his Sale career to date.
Openers Ian Dixon and Ryan Rickelton knew that Sale were all but home barring an extraordinary collapse and looked to score the required runs at a quick rate. They got off to a flying start, taking 24 runs off the first three overs. The score had reached 33 when Rickelton edged Nigel Stubbs to Jamie Williams at slip and the Sale overseas had to depart for a run-a-ball 13.

Sale’s Rick Halkon is mobbed my his teammates after completing a hat-trick. Photo by George Franks.

Tyrone Lawrence joined Dixon at the crease, and, got straight into the Middlewich bowling, playing some expansive, attacking cricket on his way to a brisk 26, which was ended when he tried to cut Sam Brothers but only edged the ball into the gloves of Middlewich ‘keeper Kristian Clowes. Although Sale were two down, they only needed 12 more to win and the game was as good as over.

After Rob Greenhough faced four dots from Sam Brothers, Dixon took 14 off what would turn out to be the last over from Stephen Bliss – including a huge six over midwicket – to send his score up to 46* and seal the comprehensive win for Sale that made sure they remained top of the division, regardless of whether other results go their way or not in the day’s other fixtures.

Ian Dixon’s knock of 46* was the cornerstone of Sale’s run chase. Photo by George Franks.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Jamie Williams: 33 (73); 3x4s, 0x6s
Ian Dixon: 46* (57); 6x4s, 1×6

Rick Halkon: 17.3-8-32-9

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

U16: Radcliffe vs. Sale [22/07/15]

Posted by Josh Cannon

Sale remained on course for a Salford Youth Cricket Association U16 League and Cup double, as they thrashed Radcliffe, to win by 8 wickets (with 22 balls remaining) and ensure that a win in their final game of the season – coincidentally against Radcliffe – will make them league, as well as cup, champions.

Sale got off to a horror start before the match had even begun; key players Joe Cannon and Dan Osborne were delayed getting to the ground after travelling all the way from Oxton, Birkenhead, after playing for Cheshire in a district game.

Thanks to the generosity of Radcliffe, though, their absence was somewhat mitigated, as Radcliffe’s manager kindly allowed the start time to be pushed back fifteen minutes, and for two substitute fielders to be provided (after Sale won the toss and elected to field) until Cannon and Osborne arrived.

Their absence, though, had little bearing on Sale’s start, as Mal Clarke bowled a maiden first over, and had a wicket in his tenth ball – conceding only one run in the nine balls before that – as Noah Duffy edged behind to ‘keeper Sam Battersby to leave Radcliffe just 7-1 off three overs.

Mal Clarke was instrumental in keeping Radcliffe to a below-par score. Photo by George Franks.

Radcliffe took much more of a liking to Sale’s other opening bowling, Tom Kellett and scored many more runs off his four overs, and as Mal Clarke bowled another maiden to end his spell of four overs for just four runs and a wicket, Tom Kellett was hit for eight runs in his final over to take his figures to a less economical 0-28 in his four.

Joe Cannon replaced Mal Clarke, and the decision paid off almost immediately, as he bowled Radcliffe captain Callum Malcolm for just 13 to leave Radcliffe 37-2 with 11 overs left. Dennis Gornall then replaced Tom Kellett, and too had a wicket in his first over; after being hit for a six by Noah Duffy, Gornall responded the very next ball, bowling Duffy for a rapid 7, to leave Radcliffe in a spot of bother at 46-3 with ten overs gone.

Luke Entwistle and opener Jake Lockett started to build a partnership to rebuild Radcliffe’s innings. But, just as the partnership was starting to get going, having added 22, Lockett tried to sweep Joe Cannon and only succeeded in missing the ball completely, subsequently being given out LBW for a patient 24 from forty-two balls, with four fours. Ben Lloyd Slayer and Luke Entwistle added 21, of which Lloyd Slater contributed just two, before he chipped back to Joe Cannon to present the easiest of caught & bowled chances, reducing Radcliffe to in some trouble at 89-5 with 33 balls left in the innings.

Entwistle and Trent Turrell added 32 at two runs a ball before the former, just two runs short of his 50, was bowled by Tim Martin (who bowled an impressive penultimate, conceding just five runs and taking one wicket) for a superb 48 at a strike rate of 150. Dan Osborne bowled the last over for Sale, and it was superb: conceding just one run and taking three wickets to keep Radcliffe under 130 – they finished on 129-9 in their 20 overs.

With Sale only needing 130 runs at 6.5 RPO on a ground with small boundaries, Sale knew that they could take their time. This was evident in the first two overs, as openers Joe Cannon and Sam Battersby took only 10 runs off the first two overs, but made sure not to throw their wickets away.

Joe Cannon was watchful for his 24. Photo by George Franks.

Battersby grew into the game, and took on more of an attacking role – he put away the bad balls with ease, while Cannon played a more watchful innings, making sure that he continued to rotate the strike so that there would be a set batsman if Battersby were to get out. Cannon, however, was the first wicket to fall, as he looked to hit Ryan Williams through the on-side but got a leading edge that looped straight to Trent Turrell. Cannon had to leave for a composed 24, but Sale were 79-1 in the 12th over, and barring an extraordinary collapse, all but home. Two runs and two balls later, Sale were effetively two wickets down, as Battersby reached his retirement mark of 50 (coming from 35 balls, with eight fours and a six).

Will Radcliffe joined Dan Osborne, and the former was more than happy to turn the strike over to the in-form Osborne as Sale continued to cruise towards their target. This tactic had yielded 24 runs for Sale in three overs, but with twenty-five more needed, Osborne called a quick single but Radcliffe couldn’t make it in time – and was run out by Entwistle for 7.

Osborne then absolutely tore into spinner James Thornhill, taking twenty-one from his final over – two sixes, two fours and a single. With the score now 127-2 and only three needed to win, it became a race to see if Gill or Osborne could finish it first. Indeed it was Osborne, who hit a huge six over point to take Sale to 134-2, seeing them home with 44* from 15 balls with five fours and three sixes. Osborne and Gill put on 29, of which Gill scored just two, in eight balls.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Luke Entwistle: 48 (32); 7x4s, 1×6
Sam Battersby: 50* (35); 8x4s; 1×6
Dan Osborne: 44* (15); 5x4s, 3x6s

Joe Cannon: 4-1-19-3
Dan Osborne: 2-0-12-3

MATCH SCORECARD: http://bit.ly/1TWZ62l