The Lifeline of Riley

Sale Cricket Club’s 3rd XI kept up their premier division title challenge thanks to a captain’s performance from Tom Riley, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling finish at Dane Road.

Visitors Nantwich asked I S Recruitment sponsored Sale to bat first and soon dislodged opener Joe Molloy.

Tom Jenkinson added 31 at the top of the order before he was second to go with the score on 50.

Several other batters made starts but none went on to make a telling contribution, Sachi Pai was run out for 28 and Asad Khan made 27 as Sale closed on 180-8.

Nantwich were quick out of the blocks after tea as Callum Pearson and Owen Silvester (34) added 54 for the first wicket in even time.

When Pearson was 4th man out for 80 with the score on 159 the visitors looked to be coasting, however 159-4 soon became 172-7. Grant Whittaker picking up 4-47.

The score then crept up to 179, two runs to win with 10 balls to go. Jenkinson then took a wicket with the penultimate over before Riley took two wickets in two balls in the final over to record figures of 4-37 and secure a famous win.

On Saturday Sale 1st XI couldn’t chase down the 244 all out posted by Timperley in a rain affected game at Stockport Road. Sale nemesis Jonathan Fletcher scoring 130 not out, Tyrone Lawrence 4-63 and Dan Newton 3-49.

Sale could only reach 188-7 after loosing two overs to rain, Matt Spells 42, Pat Ashling 34 and Dan Newton 33 amongst 6 players to reach 20 without any of them making a match winning contribution.

Sale 2nd XI lost at home to Chester Boughton Hall after posting 193-9, Tom Jenkinson 70, Jamie Coombes 30 and Amjad Khan 30.

The visitors coasted home for the loss of 4 wickets.

On Saturday the 1st XI welcome Macclesfield to Dane Road and the 2nd XI travel to Hyde, on Sunday the 3rd XI visit Romiley and the 4th XI host Cheadle Hulme.