SALE couldn’t beat the weather on Saturday as the entire Vivio Cheshire County Cricket league division one programme was abandoned.

Despite playing through persistent rain for much of the afternoon, light drizzle after tea meant the game could not restart.

The Search sponsored side got off to a perfect start as Tyrone Lawrence struck twice in the first over to reduce visitors Oxton to 0-2.

Marc De Brabander and Worcestershire CC contracted star Shaaiq Choudhry added 108 for the third wicket before the twin spin attack of Richard Halkon and Rob Grant made a double breakthrough.

Gayan Fernando then smashed 88 before he was last man to fall on 232, stumped by Chris Canning off leg spinner Halkon.

Halkon was the pick of the bowling for Sale in far from ideal conditions as her took 5-48.

Lawrence also took 3-58 while Grant got in on the act of wicket-taking with 2-55.

With no further play possible the game was abandoned, with Oxton claiming 10 points to Sale’s 7.

The 2nd and 3rd XI both saw their league games cancelled without a ball being bowled.

There was better news for the 3rd XI on Monday as they beat Didsbury in their T20 cup game.

Captain Paul Battersby played a match winning innings, hitting 45 off 32 balls as they chased down 90.

Earlier in the day Tom Riley had taken 4-14 to restrict Didsbury to a below par total.

Next week, the 1st XI face Middlewich twice in a league and cup double header, the 2nd XI host Middlewich on Saturday and the 3rd XI visit Hale Barns on Sunday.

In midweek Sale Silverbacks, the over 40’s side, start their campaign at Cheadle Hume.