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This high-scoring game got off to an explosive start and developed into a keenly contested match that could have produced a win for either side but eventually ended as a draw with Sale grabbing 17 points to Bredbury's 12.
Sale elected to bat first on a good, sun-beaten track in a small ground that promised plenty of runs. Sale's overseas player Xavier Marshall agreed with that prognosis by straight driving the first ball for four, followed by three more powerful and classy boundaries in the first over .....17 for 0. Further boundaries from the same bat in the next two overs and Sale were 34 for 0 after 3 overs! Butt's efforts to open his shoulders in the seventh over resulted in a catch to backward point. However, in came Kameran Mohammed, who joined the party with an exhibition of shots that for a few overs managed to eclipse his Jamaican batting partner. These two added 65 in 9 overs, 52 of them coming in well struck boundaries that had the fielders spreading to all parts. Marshall reached his 50 off 38 balls and Mohammed looked likely to reach his until he was lbw for 38 off only 34 balls. Thus after 15 overs Sale had reached an astonishing 108 for 2!
Marshall and Peter Allum played rather more sedately for the third wicket but kept the score ticking along with the odd boundary including two huge sixes driven out of the ground by Marshall. However, after reaching the 5th batting point at 180 in only the 29th over, Sale's innings fell apart in dramatic fashion. Marshall went for 88 to a catch on the long on boundary, his memorable knock coming off only 80 balls and including 16 boundaries; Allum was bowled a short time later for 38 and the Sale middle order surrendered meekly to the accurate bowling of Barlow and Longden. It took a stubborn knock of 20 by Mike Halkon, aided by James Kerr for the last wicket, to enable Sale to declare at 241 for 9 after 49 overs.
In reply Bredbury made a steady start, considerably less hectic than Sale's first few overs. Progress was halted, however, by four quick wickets to some impressive bowling by Rick Halkon and Rashid Jamil who, after swapping ends, snapped up two wickets each to leave the home side struggling on 53 for 4. The momentum then switched dramatically in favour of the home side as C Wood and Bashford hit out strongly with a rash of boundaries to take toll of Sale's attack wilting in the heat. They added 91 off only 17 overs to put Bredbury in with a good chance of victory. When Wood played on to Marshall at 144 for 5, they needed 98 of 15 overs but two more quick wickets fell, including a run out, to add to their difficulties. Barlow was still keen to go for a win as he belted Marshall for 6 and put on 48 with Longden for the 8th wicket ...35 needed off 4 overs. Then Marshall snapped up Longden and Mountford in his last two overs and it was left to the last pair to hold on for a draw with 8 balls left. This they achieved to leave each side with the maximum points for a draw and a creditable effort for a fine game of cricket between two well matched sides.
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