FOUR out of Sale’s five senior teams find themselves top of their respective divisions after the latest round of matches in the Cheshire County Cricket League.

Sale Silverbacks – the over-40s' side, started off the week with an improbable win against Brooklands to stay top of the North East Division.

After setting the visitors only 100 to win following a poor batting display, Brooklands reached 56-2 without alarm.

Rob Moore then struck with three quick wickets to get Sale back into the game, but with five runs needed off eight balls and four wickets in hand Brooklands were still favourites.

Moore then took a fine catch on the extra-cover boundary to dismiss White for 18, before Mark Almond took the final wickets to finish with 3-4 and leave Brooklands 95 all out.

Sale seconds went top of Division Two after recording a comprehensive win against Ashton on Mersey.

Young spinner Zikria Nadeem returned his best senior figures of 6-44 as the home team were dismissed for 178 in the 44th over, well backed up by Grant Whittaker with 2-53.

In reply, Sale got off to a shaky start losing two quick wickets before skipper Gareth Watterson steadied the innings with 46.

Jamal Benzafar, with a run-a-ball 50, and Whittaker, with 50 off just 20 balls, saw Sale to their target with more than 25 overs to spare.

The third XI kept up their 100-per-cent record with a win against Bramhall on Sunday.

The visitors made a good total of 200-8 in 45 overs, Tom Mason hitting 82. Shah Zeb with 3-45 and Sohaib Farooq with 3-34 were the pick of the Sale bowling.

In reply, Sale were always up with the rate, reaching 92-4 before Dan Newton was joined by Farooq.

This pair accelerated the scoring, reaching the target with five overs in hand, Newton hitting 60 off 44 balls and Farooq 59 off 56 balls.

The first XI lost by eight wickets to Urmston, but did pick up eight valuable points on Division One.

Lancashire and Sale batsman Brooke Guest returned to form with 117 not out as Sale posted 235-5, well supported by Jeremy McFarlane with 34.

The Sale wicket proved to be too good as Urmston reached the target in the 49th over, fellow Lancastrian Callum Turner hitting 143no, McFarlane taking the two wickets to fall.

The fourths went top of Division Three East, after a second consecutive walkover – Cheadle Hulme fourths the defaulters this week.

Earlier in the week the first XI lost their second T20 Cup match against Didsbury.

On Saturday they visit Upton and the seconds host Lindow, while on Sunday the third XI entertain Nantwich and the fourths visit Bredbury St Marks fourths.