Sale come up short in high-scoring game against Bowdon

Bowdon elected to bat and openers Pat Ashling and Jack Tipton found the Dane Road pitch to their liking as they added 109 for the first wicket.

Rob Grant made the breakthrough for Sale as he trapped Tipton for 41. Isaac Brooks then took two quick wickets, including Ashling for 70, to make the score 121-3.

Ross Zalem (73) then took the score to 192 before two wickets in two balls for Brooks reduced Bowdon to 192-6 and the chance to keep the visitors below 240.

However a quick-fire 39 from Matt Tully, helped by a couple of dropped chances from Sale, allowed Bowdon to post 259-7 declared in 49 overs. Brooks finished with 4-81.

For much of the second innings a close finish looked on the cards as the in-form Tyrone Lawrence took Sale past 100 with just two wickets down. Dan Newton looked in good touch before he fell to a smart catch by Zalem for 18, as did skipper Chris Canning who dragged one on after hitting three boundaries.

Despite this Lawrence with 75 off 92 balls looked untroubled and was set to make it close game before a spectacular one-handed catch from Zalem turned the game decisively for the visitors at 137-6.

A valiant rearguard action led by Grant (27) wasn’t enough as Sale were bowled out for 189 in the 49th over.

Sale 2nd XI lost a thriller at Oxton.

After posting a below-par 159-9 – Joe Cannon (38) and Mike Bishop (33) the top scorers – Sale took the game to the wire, having the home side 115-7 against the leg-spin of Cannon (3-17), but eventually they scraped home with one wicket and two overs to spare.

Sale 3rd XI were knocked out of the T20 cup on net run rate by Timperley after being bowled out for 125 in pursuit of the 139-5.

On Saturday Sale 2nd XI welcome Grappenhall to Dane Road and the 1st XI play the reverse fixture. On Sunday the 3rd XI host Nantwich and the 4th XI start their season at Lymm.

Tyrone Lawrence on his way to 75 against Bowdon