SALE Cricket Club 1st XI secured a double victory over Middlewich at the weekend.

On Saturday they completed a four-wicket victory to maintain their lead at the top of the Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League One, and on Sunday they progressed to the next round of the Cheshire Cup with a 120-run win.

The Search-sponsored side made short work of their first trip to Middlewich.

The hosts chose to bat first despite overnight rain and had no response to the accuracy of Tyrone Lawrence and Rick Halkon as they bowled unchanged to dismiss Middlewich for 110.

Middlewich were reduced to 55-7 at one point, before some late resistance from Kristian Clowes (51) got the score past 100.

Halkon knocked over the top order to finish with 5-51 and Lawrence cleaned up the tail as he finished with 5-56.

Sale cruised to victory as South Africa under-19 international Ryan Rickelton and Ian Dixon added 70 for the first wicket.

The loss of first Rickelton for 33 and then Dixon for 38 sparked a mini-collapse as six-wickets fell for 27 runs, before Keith Wellings and Ali Barrowman saw Sale to their target.

On Sunday, Middlewich once again won the toss and this time asked Sale to bat first anticipating another low scoring game.

Having got a start in his first innings for Sale the day before Rickelton was in no mood to miss out again, posting an unbeaten 122 that set Sale up for an imposing 253-6 in 45 overs.

Lawrence showed his form with the bat adding 51.

In reply, Middlewich lost wickets at regular intervals, being bowled out for 131.

Ali Barrowman took four wicket and Rob Grant three wickets to set up a trip to Oxton on May 24.

The match was notable for the performances of promising youngsters Dan Osborne and Sam Battersby, both of whom held their own on 1st XI debut.

The first team host Didsbury in the T20 cup on Thursday followed by Cheadle Hulme in the league on Saturday.

The second team travel to Nantwich and the 3rd XI are at home to Marple 4th.

The Sale Silverbacks, our over 40’s side, will be hoping for better weather on Wednesday as they welcome Urmston to Dane Road, after their first match of the season was cancelled last week.