SALE firsts leapfrogged fourth-placed Weaverham in Cheshire County League Division One, thanks to a comprehensive eight-wicket win in a vital promotion game.

Weaverham opted to bat first and reached 34 before Jake Lightfoot skied a running catch to Luke McCoy for five.

Two balls later, visiting captain Ian Eaton tried to cut a ball that was too close to him and edged through to Chris Canning, both wickets going to Tyrone Lawrence.

Opener Kevin Waterhouse was joined by Wilden Cornwall of the Leeward Islands and they added 27 in quick time.

After surviving a close stumping shout, Waterhouse fell to a good running catch from Brooke Guest off Lawrence to take the score to 61-3.

Ryan Simms scored just one before he became Lawrence’s fourth victim, caught down the ground by Ali Rizvi.

Ian Dixon then delivered with the prized wicket of Cornwall, pinned lbw for a fluent 26.

Sale followed up the wicket with some tight bowling to leave Weaverham on 89-5 at drinks.

Alex Nash and James Lewis steadily rebuilt the innings, adding 29 before Nash edged Ali Barrowman to Canning for a composed 17.

Lewis then edged Dixon to Canning for 31, followed two balls later by a clean-bowled Kev Douglas, to leave the score 137-8.

The innings closed as George McCormick skied a ball from Guest that was brilliantly caught out of the sun by a tumbling Joe Cannon, and Matt Jamieson was bowled trying to hit the returning Lawrence through mid-wicket.

Lawrence finished with 5-39 and Dixon with 3-36 as Weaverham were bowled out for 157 in the 50th over.

Weaverham were made to pay for dropping Guest at backward point on nought, as he and fellow opener Matt Spells put together a century opening stand, Guest hitting a huge six to bring up the milestone.

The runs continued to flow as the score raced to 135 when Guest, on 90 and looking comfortable, missed a sweep off Stuart Hayes and was bowled. His 77-ball innings included 11 fours and two sixes.

With just three runs needed, Lawrence hit Cornwall straight to Jamieson at cover for 14.

It was left to McCoy to hit the winning runs with 20 overs to spare as Sale reached 158-2, Spells finishing unbeaten on 44.

Sale second XI lost by 54 runs at Brooklands, Gareth Watterson and Siyan Siraj taking two wickets each in the home side's 167-7.

Despite keeping up with the run rate after tea, Sale lost too many early wickets and were bowled out for 113 with 17 overs still to play. Only Watterson (43) came to terms with the conditions.

The third XI had a disappointing performance at bottom-placed Bramhall, losing by 79 runs. Rob Moore took 3-39 in the home team’s 172-9.

Mal Clarke top scored with 18 as the thirds slumped to 93 all out.

The fourth XI had the better of a drawn game with Ashley.

Zikra Nadeem made 53, well supported by Michael Grant (43) and Vaasu Goyal (38 not out) in Sale’s 189-7.

In reply, Ashley reached 177-5, Nadeem adding 4-37 to his earlier runs to complete a fine all-round performance.

Earlier in the week Sale Silverbacks had to settle for second place in the North East Division after a narrow seven-run defeat to champions Cheadle Hulme, despite a fine 57-run partnership between Abas Rizvi (30 retired) and Iain Harrop (24no).