Sale CC Washed Out As Rain Stops A Ball Being Bowled

The blanket rain across the north west that ended England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes had a similar impact on local cricket over the weekend, with hardly a ball bowled across the region.

All of I S Recruitment sponsored Sale cricket club’s fixtures were cancelled without a ball being bowled, derby matches for the 1st XI against mid table Urmston and for the 2nd XI at 2nd placed Brooklands were both called off in the morning.

On Sunday Sale rued their luck as both the 3rd XI at Bramhall and the 4th XI at home to Stockport were due to play the basement sides so missed out on likely wins.

The only cricket played in the week was the over 40s match on Wednesday between second placed Davenham and 3rd placed Sale with a home draw in the quarter finals on the line.

Visitors Davenham won an important toss and asked Sale to bat first. Opener Asad Kahn hit 31 retired off 23 balls and Dan Brown smashed 32 retired off just 19 balls.

However tight bowling from the visitors in the middle overs meant that Sale finished on 113-7, around 25 runs short of par.

In reply Sale got off to a great start with miserly overs from Rob Moore and Ian Dixon, Moore removing Paul Parker for 1.

Lionel Thompson then removed skipper Phil Sharples and an early wicket for Paul Hanrahan made it 33-3.

However Davenham dug in and clawed back the rate to reach their target with 4 balls to spare, Tom Edwards 32 retired and John O’Sullivan 30 retired.

On Saturday Sale 2nd XI welcome Didsbury to Dane Road and the 1st XI visit Bramhall. On Sunday Sale 3rd XI host Timperley.