SALE 1st XI’s chances of reaching finals day suffered a blow on Saturday after losing a T20 double header at neighbours Brooklands.

Sale now need Brooklands to beat top of the table Grappenhall next week to stand any chance of qualifying.

In the first match Sale posted just 95 after being asked to bat first on a tricky surface, Tyrone Lawrence top scoring with 35.

Brooklands looked to be cruising to victory before a clatter of wickets saw them go from 60-1 to 88-5 thanks to a spell of 3-16 from Ben Watkin.

With a tight finish on the cards the umpires ruled that when a cap placed behind the stumps due to Covid regulations was hit attempting a run out that five penalty runs were awarded to the home side denying the ample crowd a grandstand finish.

In the second game Brooklands batted first and recovered from losing four wickets for eight runs to post 109-7.

Unfortunately for Sale their batting failed again, as they were routed for 55, only Lawrence and Sam Battersby making double figures.

In contrast at Dane Road, Sale 2nd XI gave themselves an outside chance of reaching finals day after beating divisional leaders Romiley by 30 runs.

Batting first, Sale scored 152-7, Siyan Siraj hitting 36 and Joe Cannon, 35, leading the way.

In reply, Romiley were restricted to 122-4 as Sale’s spin attack of Siraj, Cannon and James Dodds strangled the game in the middle overs.

Sale 3rd XI lost a rain affected game at Toft after the home side posted 149-5 – Sagar Shetty taking two of the wickets to fall – before scoring 111-8 in reply.

Sale 4th XI eased to victory against Oulton Park – Naman Mudalier (3-13) and Johnathan Dickens (3-17) the pick of the bowlers while Theo Broderick top scored with an unbeaten 31.