SALE'S first XI suffered a heavy defeat against Cheshire County Cricket League Division One leaders Oulton Park on Saturday to drop into the bottom two places.

Young opener Joe Cannon got Sale off to a solid start after being put into bat by the visitors, adding 41 runs on his return to the side.

However only two others made double figures as Sale subsided to 96 all out.

Andrew Hards (3-33) and Muhammad Kashif (5-18) did the damage for the leaders, Kashif particularly effective in running through Sale’s lower order.

Sale took two wickets before Oulton Park coasted home in the 24th over.

The seconds kept their nerve and maintained the pressure on the leaders in Division Two in a low-scoring game at Heaton Mersey.

The home team were bundled out for 112 in the 46th over, Gareth Watterson leading the way with three wickets.

Sale made hard work of the reply, losing eight wickets before reaching their target in the 42nd over.

Buoyed from receiving his Cheshire under-14 cap, Dan Newton led the way with 50 not out, while Viraj Sorathia continued his consistent form with 30 at the top of the order.

The third XI suffered defeat in a similar game at third-placed Didsbury, but still maintained top spot in the Premier Division after picking up nine valuable points.

Ali Rizvi top scored with 37 as Sale were bowled out for a below-par 150 in the 42nd over, well backed up by opener Sam Battersby (30).

In a tense game Sale were always in the hunt for maximum points as Didsbury lost eight wickets in pursuit of their target, Abas Rizvi (3-18) and Paul Hanrahan (2-22) doing the damage.

Sale were left to rue not batting out their full 45 overs in the first innings as Didsbury reached their target in the 48th over.

The fourth XI kept their decent run of form going with a five-wicket win against Heaton Mersey.

Sale bowled and fielded impressively, with Howard Briggs and Isaac Brooks finishing with identical figures of 10-2-26-3.  The consistent Joe Wicks picked up a wicket after another impressive opening spell, and Andy Watt also bowled with control and pace to finish with 2-16 from six overs.

Heaton Mersey were eventually dismissed for 85, with special mentions deserved for Jay Jayoraman, who kept wicket expertly, Chris Smith, who took two fine catches and Tom Chute, who bravely got something in the way no matter what was hit at him.

In reply, Vaasu Goyal made a powerful 29 and Jayoraman a typically forthright 23 in another positive opening partnership.  Despite losing some quick wickets, Tris Brodbeck and Howard eventually saw Sale home for the loss of five wickets.

Earlier in the week the Sale Silverbacks over-40s' side won a rain-affected game at Bowdon.

Sale posted 160-7 either side of a rain interruption in a game reduced to 36 overs.

Promoted to opener, Tris Brodbeck hit 23 before skipper Iain Harrop then sacrificed himself to allow Soans Pravenn (33 off 11 balls) and Mark Almond (32 off 13 balls) to blast the Silverbacks to an imposing total.

Brodbeck showed his skills with the ball in the second innings as he took a hat-trick in a spell of 3-32.

Bowdon were always behind the rate despite 32 from ex-Lancashire batsman Nathan Wood, Paul Hanrahan taking 3-9 as they closed on 132-8.

On Saturday, the first XI travel to Weaverham and the seconds play the reverse fixture.

On Sunday, the thirds visit Didsbury fourths and the fourth XI host Stockport Trinity at Dane Road.