THE top two sides in division one of the Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League proved to be evenly matched as the clash between Timperley and Sale ended in a narrow winning draw for Timperley.

All four results were possible for much of the match as Timperley increased their lead to 12 points, with Sale staying 15 points ahead of third-placed Didsbury at the half-way stage of the season.

Sale got off to a good start reducing Timperley to 50-3 but Daniel Cooper (90) and captain Craig Grindley (50) then rebuilt the innings, taking the score to 140.

As wickets began to fall it looked like Sale would keep the score below 200, but for a brutal final over from which Timperley plundered 28 runs to close on 217-8.

Tyrone Lawrence was once again the key bowler for Sale with 5-58.

Sale lost a wicket with the second ball of their reply, and found themselves in a similar position to the 1st innings at 60-4. Keith Wellings and Ali Barrowman (29) added 50 to get Sale back into the game.

Rick Halkon then joined Wellings at 140-7 with 10 overs to go, as Wellings with 50 tried to force the win.

However Sale couldn’t keep up with the rate, and when Halkon fell for 26 off the last delivery of the game Sale were 191-8, Timperley taking 14 points to Sale’s seven in a good contest between two good sides.

Meanwhile, the second team picked up nine points with a good display with the bat against top of the table Timperley, but were unable to contain the visitors on another great track at Dane Road.

Rob Merga (71) and Dan Osborne (47) top scored for Sale as Sale posted 242-6, in reply Timperley reached the target for three wickets in the 49th over, Joe Cannon taking two wickets for the home side.

Sale Silverbacks, (Over-40s) continued their winning run last Wednesday evening with a convincing eight-wicket victory over previously unbeaten Cheadle Hulme.

Having won the toss, Sale invited their visitors to bat first on a great looking wicket, and after a strong bowling and fielding display restricted Cheadle Hulme to 105-5.

Howard Briggs was the pick of the bowling with three wickets.

In reply openers Paul Battersby and Mark Rowe made swift inroads into their modest target before Battersby was well caught at mid-wicket for 22 and Rowe was run out on 28.

This brought together the in-form pair of Mark Almond (30 not out) and Nigel Davenport (15 not out) together, who finished the job with overs to spare, giving a six point cushion at the top of the North East division table.