SALE’S firsts and seconds started the day knowing they had to win and hope other results went their way to reach finals day.

Despite both teams dully winning they both narrowly missed out in the strangest of seasons.

The firsts travelled to struggling Warrington, but made hard work of the win after bowling the home side out for 80 runs.

After a promising start the last eight wickets fell in a procession, Isaac Brooks completing a well-deserved 5-27.

Sale also struggled, final pair Ben Watkin and Rich Adams seeing them to their target. However the narrow win didn’t help Sale who were pipped to finals day by Grappenhall on net run rate.

Sale seconds boosted their run rate with a 76-run win over Heaton Mersey, but finished two points behind Romiley and missed out on their final.

Jamal Benzafar with a run-a-ball 77 and Rob Merga with a breezy 37 dominated Sale’s 200-7.

Mersey were never in the hunt after two early wickets for Merga, with spinners James Dodds and Lionel Thompson also taking a brace as the visitors closed on 124-8.

On Sunday, Sale thirds had a walkover as Nantwich conceded their final game. However in a hastily arranged friendly they finished off with a two-wicket win against Didsbury.

Sagar Shetty took 3-25 and Jack Brassell 2-10 as the visitors were bowled out for 184. In a close finish, Sale reached their target for the loss of eight wickets, Siyan Siraj hitting 87 off just 82 balls and Shetty 48 off 36.

Sale fourths made it a full house as they beat Ashley 3s after restricting them to 109-9 and knocking off the required runs for the loss of seven wickets.

As this short eight-week season came to a close huge credit goes out to all the players, officials, groundsmen and volunteers who have made this strangest of seasons possible and brought some much-needed reality back for those who love cricket.