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Cricketers draw match

4/ 7/2008

SALE'S poor mid-season form continued with a draw against Middlewich, a team they had thrashed by eight wickets in the Cheshire Cup earlier in the season.

This was a game probably of more interest to a cricket statistician than to a connoisseur.

In each innings an opening batsman batted unbeaten throughout the 47 overs, received 134 balls and dominated the batting for his side.

Middlewich’s David Bates scored 142 out of 239, hitting 22 fours and a six, in a highly impressive display of strokeplay to all parts of his side’s small ground.

The only chance he gave was on 42 when a catch at the wicket was not taken. Sale’s bowling took some damage at his hands, although it was again Rick Halkon who emerged as the tidiest and most successful bowler with 5 wickets for 56 off 16 overs.

Brother Mike picked up the first two to fall in his first five overs but, with the other bowlers, took some heavy punishment in the later stages as Bates uncompromisingly forced the pace.

In reply it was Dan Halkon who replicated the Bates role, albeit not with the same degree of success.

He scored an unbeaten 62 as his partners found it difficult to come to terms with the accurate Middlewich bowling.

Sale’s chances of reaching their target took a major setback when Price snapped up three wickets in six balls to rip the heart out of the Sale top order, and from 30 for 4 it became a question of salvaging an honourable draw.

Mike Halkon came to the wicket at 94 for 7 and, with his younger brother, saw out the remaining 13 overs with few problems.

Dan’s score included 8 boundaries and Mike finished on 26, the third-highest score of the match. It was a good day for the three Halkon brothers but one that they would surely concede belonged to the opposition’s opener, whose score exceeded the Sale total.

Sale’s 2nd XI recorded their ninth win out of 10 this season to consolidate their position at the top of the league.

They comfortably defeated Bowdon and picked up 24 points to the opposition’s five.