Pursuit of Sale cut short by the rain

MACCLESFIELD CC 1st XI shared the spoils in their home game against Sale at the weekend. The home side won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Craig Melrose and Tom Key opened the bowling for Macc, causing problems for both opening batsmen, and they were unlucky not to get an early wicket.

It wasn’t too long before Macc were celebrating though as Melrose trapped Matt Wilson LBW for 10, leaving Sale on 42-1.

A few overs later, Melrose (2-61) picked up another wicket, as Mat Spells edged behind for 15, Sale were now 63-2.

Opener Greg Gyves was still in, however, and was still finding the boundary frequently as Macc searched for the next breakthrough. Tyrone Lawrence joined Gyves and the pair patiently built up a steady partnership.

Macc introduced Otis Palmes and Chris Moores into the attack. Both bowled tightly, whilst Gyves and Lawrence remained solid in defence and positive when attacking.

They moved passed the 100-mark before drinks and Gyves brought up his 50 just after as the pair continued to build a handy platform for Sale.

Rob Porter (1-46) was brought into the attack and in his second over he induced a top edge off Lawrence as he went to sweep, Craig Melrose claiming the catch at short fine leg. Lawrence departed for a well made 44, leaving Sale on 139-3.

Chris Canning then came in and made a quickfire 40 as he took the score on to 193-4 for the visitors, before Tom Key claimed his wicket after a tremendous one handed catch by Sawas in the covers.

Gyves continued to press on, hitting a couple of big shots, whilst also pushing the singles around. Ryan Burgess struck a quick 22 as the incoming Sale batsmen had licence to hit.

Palmes then (2-33) accounted for Burgess son continued the run Macc were now 97-2 and Keith Wellings, leavchase for Macc in a calm with around 18 overs to ing thego.awaysideon233-6andmeasuredfashion. with a few overs to go. However, as the pair Sawas then dispatched

Gyves eventually held took the score passed the a few more deliveries to out for 91 as Key and 50 mark, rain stopped play the fence as he moved Sawas combined again, on a few occasions. Macc through the gears. with the latter taking a kept adding to their total However, Craig Melrose very difficult high catch. in between these interwas then caught behind

Macc claimed another vals. off Adams (2-14), leaving wicket late on through But after some more Macc on 118-3 off 26.1 Tom Key (3-73) as Sale time off the pitch, Macc overs. closed on a big score of lost nine overs off their Unfortunately, this hap259-8 off their 50 overs. innings, so had to up the pened to be the last ball of

In reply, Macc started run rate when they the game as the rain came compactly through Khalid returned to the field. down again and the playSawas and Jim Melrose. Sawas did exactly that, ers never got back on.

Both put away some hitting some powerful Sawas finished on a early boundaries despite boundaries. formidable 81 not out, good, tight bowling from Thomson departed for displaying an array of Sale’s opening bowlers. 14 after a bit of extra shots along the way,

The pair took the score bounce caught his top which included 15 fours. onto 34 when Melrose edge off the bowling of So in the end the spoils edged to gully off Richard Adams, resulting were shared in a rain Lawrence (1-46) for 16. in a high catch for the affected draw, as Sale took Sawas and Angus Thom- wicketkeeper. 11 points to Macc’s 7.