Rain Spoils Sale CC Derby

A weekend of Sale derby fixtures were curtailed as rain once again disrupted the Cheshire County league programme over the weekend. Of the three scheduled matches between Sale and Brooklands only one reached a conclusion.

The 1st XI clash at Dane Road was first to go, cancelled without a ball being bowled after rain during the morning meant the square was still too wet at the cut-off point to start a reduced overs game.

The 2nd XI return fixture at Georges Road fared batter, with Sale on top when a final heavy shower led to the abandonment of the game.

IS Recruitment sponsored Sale were soon in trouble at 28-3 after being asked to bat first.

Rob Merga led the fightback for Sale, adding 36 for the 4th wicket with Dattu Vadekutte and 48 for the fifth with Grant Whittaker, before he was bowled for 42.

Whittaker then took the attack to Brooklands with 60 off 64 balls in a stand of 46 with Sale skipper Gareth Watterson (158-6).

Watterson then took Sale past 200, with 46 off 46 balls. Sale declared on 206-7 in 47 overs.

Brooklands soon found themselves in trouble at 28-4 before Paul Garnett (47) and Mark Bloomfield (28) rallied the score to 109.

Three quick wickets then saw Brooklands slump to 116-8 before the heavens opened to bring the game to a premature conclusion. Sale claimed 13 points to Brooklands’s 7.

The 1st teams finally met on Sunday in the Cheshire Cup, with Brooklands progressing to the next round following a 74 run win in a game reduced to 80 overs.

The crucial inning was 94 from 72 balls from Kevin Carroll who punished Sale’s fifth bowler after Sale had made a promising start.

Several of Sale’s batsmen made starts, but they were always behind the rate as they were bowled out for 157 in the final over. Tyrone Lawrence and Chris Canning hit 28 apiece.

The best result of the weekend came at Stockport Georgians as Sale 3rd XI beat the home team by 6 wickets.

The match started with a minute’s applause for the late Rizwan Jameel, after which Sale soon had the home team in trouble.

Despite a fine 56 from Ben Duckworth Sale bundled Georgains out for 115. Sam Baker taking 6-30 and Tom Riley 3-2.

Sale coasted home for the loss of 4 wickets in the 29th over, Dattu Vadakutte top scoring with 26.

Earlier in the week Sale Silverbacks lost their over 40s match against Toft by 19 runs after the visitors had posted 111-3.

The Silverbacks could only manage 92-6 in reply, Asad Khan with 30 retired and Soans Praveen 20.

On Saturday Sale 1st XI travel to Urmston and the 2nd XI welcome Lindow to Dane Road. On Sunday the 3rd XI host Alderley Edge and the 4th XI visit Widnes.