SALE returned to the top of the Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League Division One following a comprehensive 60-run win over third-placed Didsbury.

A century from Tyrone Lawrence provided the platform for a fine team effort against one of their promotion revivals.

Sale chose to bat first and despite the early loss of opener Ian Dixon built a challenging total. Fellow opener Rob Greenhough played the anchor role in a 71 stand with Lawrence for the second wicket.

The loss of Greenhough for 20 brought South African Ryan Rickelton to the wicket.

Together they turned the game in Sale’s favour with a stand of 131, at an ever increasing rate.

The partnership ended when Rickelton, who had made 63 from just 52 balls with eight fours and a six, ran down the wicket to Raza Mian and was stumped by Tim Hughes – not before Lawrence completed a superb 100.

He fell soon after for 107 from 135 balls as Sale sacrificed wickets in pursuit of quick runs, closing on 246-6. Matt Grace finished with 5-72, including a sharp caught and bowled.

Didsbury made a confident start, reaching 44 before Rob Grant removed the dangerous Nick Anderson for a run-a-ball 30.

A developing partnership between Matt Marfani (36) and Josh Beal (17) was nipped in the bud as they fell in quick succession as Didsbury reached 87-3 at drinks.

Mian and Hughes added 49 for the 6th wicket before Mian (21) was well caught by a diving Rickelton and Hughes was stumped for 56 off Rick Halkon.

At 166-9 with 10 overs to go Didsbury held out until the last over, when Ali Barrowman got the crucial breakthrough, caught by a jubilant Sale skipper Chris Canning. Taz Thayalan (3-31) and Halkon (3-39) were the pick of the Sale bowling.

News soon filtered through of Urmston’s last ball defeat of leaders Timperley, meaning Sale moved back to the top of the table by a single point.

The second team also secured a convincing win, by 122 runs over Grappenhall.

Matt Spells (73 not out) and Dan Osborne (72) top scored in Sale’s 258-6 on another outstanding wicket at Dane Road.

Siyan Siraj and Joe Cannon took 4 wickets each as Grappers were sent back for 136.

Meanwhile, the third team match at Bowdon on Sunday was abandoned after a heavy thunderstorm.

Sale Silverbacks, (Over-40s side), maintained their six-point advantage at the top of the North East division with a comfortable 20 run win over Urmston.

Paul Battersby, Graham Bolton and Mark Almond all reached 30 retired in Sale’s 152-2. In reply Urmston could only reach 130, due to fine bowling from Ian Holland (3-23), Paul Hanrahan (2-24) and two remarkable catches from Bolton.

On Wednesday the Silverbacks host Cheadle. On Saturday the 1st XI welcome Christleton to Dane Road, whilst the 2nd XI visit Congleton. On Sunday the 3rd XI host Hale Barns