Bolly remain in hunt for promotion

BOLLINGTON travelled to Sale this weekend looking for a victory to keep them in contention with a chance of promotion.

Sale captain Keith Wellings won the toss and asked Bollington to field first.

This saw the ever-impressive duo of Jack Ward and Dario Seale opening the bowling, womb sit with a combined haul of 85 wickets with 3 games remaining in the season.

It didn’t take the visitors long to trouble the scorecard as Ward removed Battersby for 0 following a fine catch from Seale at fine leg.

Seale himself was then involved in the action removing the dangerman Guest with a gem of a delivery.

The Sale batsmen took the scores passed 50 with a steady partnership by Spells and Burgess, which took them to the first drinks break with the away side well on top.

As the pressure built Horsfield (1-24) took his first wicket of the afternoon, removing Burgess for 17 to increase Bollington’s advantage in the game at 61-3.

McFarlane aided in Sales recovery to take them close to the 100 mark before being removed by Seale, who added a further two wickets to his haul removing Spells and Adams as the home side limped along with the scores at 110-6.

These quick wickets brought captain Wellings to the crease, who batted sensible to frustrate the visitors as Sale looked to post a competitive score.

Ward removed Harrop to leave him with figures of 2-40 off 12 overs, as Seale also finished his spell with yet another haul of wickets (4-43).

Jake Dickinson took his only wicket of the afternoon, after bowling Brooks for three which brought Battersby to the crease.

With only seven overs remaining as the scores poised at 130-8, P.Battersby unleased, as he smashed numerous boundaries to give the home side confidence in defending their final total of 177, Battersby finishing on 41 off just 20 balls.

Bollington started poorly losing the wickets of Leese and Edgar as Sale score looked confident in defending their total.

Barrass and Ward steadied proceedings as they batted sensibly, with their partnership passing 50, to leave the visitors is a strong position at 57-2.

After the drinks break their confidence grew as they hit a series of boundaries to increase the likelihood of victory for the visitors.

Bollington looked in control at the half way mark with the scores looking comfortable at 103-2, however as both looked like reaching their half century’s Barrass fell for a well-constructed 40, after being removed by Brooks.

Dickinson was the next man, who looked calm at the crease as Bollington requiring a further 60 runs off 15 overs.

Jack Ward reached his half century as Bollington crept eve closer to the required target.

Ward fell soon after for an excellent 76 closely joined by Dickinson for 23, this left Bollington requiring just 20 off 5 overs which Cross (9*) and Henshall (12*) comfortable taking the visitors over the line with their second victory in as many weeks.

This victory kept Bollington in contention for a promotion place as just 21 points separated five teams with a further 50 up for grabs.

Bollington welcome fellow contenders Davenham to the Recreation Ground with a loss for either side ruling them out of any chance of promotion.