Marple home and dry in rain-hit tie

MARPLE travelled to Sale's impressive Dane Road venue last Saturday, and came away with a fine victory, despite rain having delayed the start by eighty minutes, and causing two further short stoppages. The game was eventually reduced to one of 75 overs.

- BY MARK BROOK

Since being paired together four games ago to open the innings, Keagan Lynch and Mark Makin have got Marple away to a fine start on three occasions.

Here, after a watchful half dozen overs, Makin took a liking to the bowling of Ali Barrowman in particular, with some glorious cover drives.

The Sale seamer conceded 26 in two overs, and Makin also took 8 from Williams' sixth over. 57 were added in thirteen overs, before Makin (36) flashed at one too close to cut, and was smartly held by keeper Bishop off first change Layton in his opening over.

Max Fitzgerald and Lynch then batted sensibly, with both players beginning to flow, when Lynch called for a suicidal run, was sent back, but was well out of his ground when the stumps were broken.

He was crestfallen, having done much hard work in his 24, and adding 38 for the second wicket.

From this point on, the Sale bowlers, slow left armer Brassell and Layton bowled steadily, and needed watching.

Despite losing Young and Reilly cheaply, Fitzgerald found a good partner for the fifth wicket in George Bailey, playing just his second league game at first eleven level.

From 100 for 4, they added 60 runs, with increasing rapidity.

Fitzgerald was the senior partner with a classy 51, and Bailey also found the boundary in his responsible knock of 22.

Fitzgerald is an attractive player to watch when on song, and he hit five fours and three sixes, mixed in with good application throughout his innings.

A huge six, struck from his first delivery faced, by Ed Saxelby propelled Marple up to a useful 175 for 7 from their 38 overs.

It was a mixed bag from the Sale bowlers; Brassell the pick with 2 for 28, with Williams, 2 for 20 also needing careful attention. The other bowlers were relatively expensive.