SALE Cricket Club's first XI were frustrated on Saturday after their Cheshire County League Division One match at Marple was cancelled.

Despite a dry Saturday the umpires ruled that the square was unfit after heavy rain in the preceding days, the only match in the county not to start.

Fortunately for Sale the top four teams in the division all lost meaning they did not lose any ground against their promotion rivals.

The second XI were well beaten by Nantwich at Dane Road after being bowled out for 96, Naveed Ahmed top scoring with 26.

Gareth Watterson took 4-36 as the visitors struggled to their target for the loss of five wickets.

The thirds and fourths both saw their games abandoned on Sunday.

The thirds reached 91-4 against Toft when the rain arrived, Soans Praveen unbeaten on 36.

The fourth XI game at Heaton Mersey was well poised when the weather called a halt, Linesh Sorathia taking 5-24 in Mersey’s 96-8, Sale were 28-2 when the heavens opened.

Earlier in the week the Silverbacks lost their first game of the season at Cheadle Hulme, as they slipped to second place in the Over-40s North East Division.

It proved a bad toss to lose on a wet wicket – only Mark Rowe (30 retired) and Nigel Davenport (22) came to terms with conditions as the Silverbacks closed on 91-4.

In reply, Mark Almond took three early wickets to keep the game finely balanced until Phil Dare and Richard Battye hit 30 a-piece to reach their target in the 19th over.

On Saturday, the first XI welcome promoted Bollington to Dane Road and the seconds travel to Stockport.

On Sunday the third XI travel to Marple and the 4th XI host Stockport Trinity.