Sale 3rd XI finished the season as Champions of Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League division 1 east on Sunday with a comprehensive victory over Stockport Georgians. Sale Chairman Paul Battersby led the way with an unbeaten century to claim a fourth trophy of the season for Sale.
Search sponsored Sale fielded first after losing the toss. Georgians made a confident start, with opener Rick Barrow making 57.
With the score of 115-3 with 11 overs to go the visitors were in a good position to post a challenging total.
The introduction of Tom Riley turned the game in Sale’s favour. Riley took 6 wickets for 24 runs from 9 overs to reduce Georgians to 154-9 in the 40th over.
Sale coasted to victory after tea thanks to a magnificent 122 not out from opener Battersby. His knock included 21 fours and two sixes as Sale reached their target in the 25th over to secure the league title.
With this win Sale’s third string secured promotion to the Sunday premier division in 2016. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the club’s 1st XI who were cruelly denied promotion on a dramatic final day of the season.
Sale bowled well in a rain reduced game against Champions elect Timperley, who posted 131-7 in 33 overs. Tyrone Lawrence was the pick of the bowling for Sale with 4-68.
Sale’s response never really got going as they collapsed from 25-1 to 67-9. A heroic effort from the last pair of Ali Barrowman and Rick Halkon then added 62 runs to get Sale within 12 runs of a victory that would have secured promotion.
Sadly for Sale Barrowman was caught on the boundary for 33 in the penultimate over, with Halkon left not out on 26. News soon filtered through of Urmston’s improbable victory against Weaverham as they scored 19 off the last over, including a six off the last ball, to pip Sale to the final promotion spot by 8 points.
Sale 2nd XI finished mid table after a 7 wicket loss at promoted Timperley, a creditable performance in a season of fluctuating availability.
Sale finished the season with 4 trophies, the under 16’s winning the double and the Silverbacks winning the North East division, before missing out in the County final.
The 1st XI missing out on a well-deserved promotion was a huge disappointment after occupying the promotion slots for most of the season. The team are admired across the league for playing positive cricket with a great team spirit and are sure to be challenging again next season.
