SALE made up for lost time on Saturday with an impressive double win over Grappenhall in the Cheshire County League.
Following last week’s Covid postponements Sale bounced back with a final-over win for the 1st XI and a more comfortable 10-wicket win for the 2nd XI.
Sale were asked to bat first in the 1st XI match at Dane Road and were all out for 241 in the final over, Gareth Davies and Dan Newton both making 48.
Sale soon put the visitors under pressure in reply, leg spinner Rick Halkon taking control with two wickets.
After an economical opening spell, Newton returned to take three wickets in three overs including Lewis Porter off the final ball of the last over to give Sale a big win.
The return fixture at Broad Lane was a more straightforward affair as the hosts were restricted to 147-8 with leg spinner Joe Cannon taking 5-46.
Sale coasted home in the second innings, Viraj Sorathia finishing on 79 not out and Joe Molloy unbeaten on 51.
Sale 3rd XI had the best of their Premier Division match at Alderley Edge after posting 220-4, the home side reaching 199-7. Sale 4th XI lost at home to Trafford Metrovics.
Ashton on Mersey produced another fine performance to deliver an impressive win on the Wirral as they beat Upton by four wickets.
The Ashton spinners did the damage as the hosts were all out for 147, Zaheer Khan taking 4-35.
The target was potentially challenging for Ashton as they were missing several key players through absence and injury, and when both openers fell early the alarm bells might have rung.
But with Matt Rhind providing some strong hitting to get the innings going, Henry Murray took his chance to patiently play the crucial knock of the day, finishing unbeaten on 35.
Tom Scott also delivered an innings which mixed watchfulness and aggression to be not out on 38 at the close.
Ashton’s 2nd XI continued their excellent season with a comfortable win over Congleton at The Beets.
The 3rd XI won a hard-fought contest against Mobberley.
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