SALE 1st XI completed a league and cup double weekend, winning their top of the table clash against Oulton Park on Saturday and beating Oxton in the Cheshire Cup on Sunday.

The wins extended their lead at the top of the Vivio Cheshire County Cricket League Division One to eight points and set up a 4th round cup clash with ECB Premiership leaders Chester Boughton Hall.

Captain Chris Canning led from the front with a match-winning innings of 83 and 82 not out as Sale chased down Oulton Park’s 220-6 to win by five wickets on Saturday and coasted home by 44 runs at Oxton on Sunday.

Search sponsored Sale asked Oulton Park to bat first but found wickets hard to come by on the excellent surface at Dane Road.

Danny Leach led the way for the visitors with 73 as they passed 130 for the loss of just 1 wicket.

Sale rotated the bowling well, with fifth change bowler Ali Barrowman claiming 3 wickets as the visitors were restricted to 220-6.

Sale got off to the worst possible start as both openers were dismissed for one run. Tyrone Lawrence (63) led the rebuilding efforts firstly with Keith Wellings, then with Canning.

When Canning fell for 83, Sale still needed 48 off the last five overs, but the two Rob’s (Greenhough and Grant) kept their heads to see Sale home, both finishing on 27 not out.

Early morning rain reduced the Sunday cup game to 35 overs per side, but Sale soon made up for lost time as their leading batsmen dominated the Oxton attack. Opener Ryan Rickelton made 79, number three Lawrence hit 44, and Canning an unbeaten 82 as Sale posted an imposing 228-6.

In reply Oxton made a confident start, adding 55 for the first wicket in even time.

However they were always behind the rate, and once Fernando was 4th man out for 57 Sale took control.

In the field Grant and Lawrence took two wickets apiece, with Dan Osborne claiming three stumpings.

Regular ‘keeper Canning handed the gloves over for the day, but remained in the thick of the action affecting two run outs as Oxton finished on 184-8.

The 2nd XI had a bad day with the bat after reducing Warrington to 155-9, only managing 83-8 in a losing draw. Mike Wolanski (four wickets) and Greg Gyves (three wickets), both bowled well on the comeback trail from injury.