SALE Cricket Club's second XI rounded off their season with a barnstorming win against Bowdon to finish fourth in Division One of the Cheshire County League.

Sale have been the form team in the second half of the season but could not make up enough points to secure promotion.

Captain Jamal Benzafar started in typically aggressive fashion as Sale passed 50 in the seventh over after electing to bat first. 

Benzafar and Viraj Sorathia hit an opening stand of 134 to put Sale in control, Sorathia the first wicket to fall for 37.

Benzafar added 30 with Joe Cannon (23) for the second wicket before he was bowled shortly after reaching his century for 101.

Siyan Siraj then picked up the scoring rate as he blasted 68 in the final overs to set the visitors an imposing target of 279 to win for the loss of nine wickets.

Bowdon were never really in the chase as Gareth Watterson took two early wickets and Siraj took four middle-order wickets to reduce the visitors to 91-6.

The lower order showed some resistance as Sale rotated the bowling, before finally being bowled out for 153 in the 41st over.  Siraj finished with 4-35 and Watterson 3-19.

Sale's first XI suffered a disappointing loss in the reverse fixture to Bowdon, or more specifically the Ashling brothers who dominated the match.

Pat hit 104 in Bowdon’s 200-8, with Sale’s leading bowler for the season Isaac Brooks taking 4-37.

After tea Sale had no response to the accuracy of former first-class cricketer Chris, who took 6-47 as Sale subsided to 99 all out, Tyrone Lawrence top scoring with 39.

Sale ended an enjoyable season by achieving their objective of keeping all teams in their respective divisions ahead of moving into a new purpose-built clubhouse next season that will confirm Sale as one of the premier facilities in the county.