Resurgent Sale cruise to victory

6:14pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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Stockport Georgians 197-9 Sale 201-5

Sale win by five wickets

SALE continued their improved form in the second half of the season with an impressive five-wicket victory over local rivals Stockport Georgians. The result is Sale’s third maximum point victory in a row since the turn of the season.

Stockport won the toss and elected to bat first on a decent pitch with small boundaries and made steady progress for the first wicket with the opening pair of H Bailey and T Bailey cautious against some economical bowling from JP Lee and M Halkon.

They had reached 60 in the 20th over before the first wicket fell, an lbw from R Halkon.

Despite having plenty of wickets in the shed, the Georgians batsmen continued their cautious approach and a third wicket partnership of 64 was compiled by Bailey and M Vincent but in slow time.

By the 37th over the score was 125-2 after some excellent tight bowling by R Halkon and J Broadbent.

As the batsmen tried to accelerate, wickets began to tumble. Aussie John Taylor picked up three quick wickets while Halkon (3-69) continued to cause batsmen problems at the other end.

Some lusty blows helped the batting side somewhat but further wickets fell after the reintroduction of left arm quick Lee (3-22) who picked up three wickets in two overs and the Georgians innings petered out with them finishing on 197-9 after their 50 overs.

The Sale reply was similarly cautious to begin with. After the early dismissal of Lee, adjudged lbw from the bowling of Leggett, D Halkon (27) and I Dixon (19) slowly compiled a partnership that was to be an excellent platform from which to later attack.

With 20 overs gone, Sale were 42-1 but with wickets in hand. After they had fallen in quick succession, Taylor and J Benzafar were to take full advantage of the short straight boundaries.

The next 12 overs saw 70 runs come, Benzafar (41) particularly ruthless with the Stockport bowling, launching four huge sixes out of the ground.

When he fell, M Savka came to the crease to join Taylor and these two continued in the same vain, putting on 60 in just eight overs.

Taylor was out just before Sale reached their total for a fine 62 (to go with his 3-48) but Savka (37 not out) finished off victory for Sale in fine style. Sale face strugglers Bredbury next week hoping to continue their good run.

Sale’s second XI extended their lead at the top of their division with a comprehensive 108-run victory against Stockport Georgians’ second XI.

Rick Hampton lead the way with 61 runs as Sale pilled up 212-6. In reply John O'Donnell (4-24) and Matt Millward (3-18) helped send the visitors back for 111.