SALE slipped back to fifth place in Division One of the Cheshire County League after leaders Didsbury ended their recent run of wins with an eight-wicket triumph.

Sale were asked to bat first and lost in-form batsmen Brooke Guest for six and Tyrone Lawrence for four.

Mat Spells and Luke McCoy started the rebuilding, adding 56 for the third wicket before McCoy fell for 36 with the score on 83.

Chris Canning added a brisk 15 to bring up the Sale hundred, but was out soon after. When Spels went for a top-scoring 44 the score had moved to 119-6.

Rob Greenhough was the only other batsman to make double figures, when he was last man out the score had reached 142.  Simon Normanton was the pick of the bowling with 3-44.

Taz Thayalan got Sale off to the perfect start, removing Tim Hughes and Nick Anderson cheaply to reduce the visitors to 23-2.

However, Didsbury never lost another wicket on the excellent Dane Road surface, Simon Normanton (60 not out) and Matt Marfani (59no) seeing the leaders home with 15 overs to spare on 143-2.

Sale's seconds had a great win at high-flying Bowdon after being asked to bat first.

Opener Santhosh Rajasekaran got the visitors off to the perfect start, hitting 51 and he was well-supported by a season’s best 34 from Lionel Thompson.

Abas Rizvi then added 30 late runs as Sale closed on 171-6 off their 50 overs.

In reply, Rupam Saha got Sale off to the perfect start, bowling Robert Shenkman without scoring.

Oliver Simons (44) was holding the home reply together before the introduction of leg spinner Joe Cannon, who removed Simons in a devastating spell of 3-3.

Saha then returned to clean up the tail, finishing with 4-25 as Bowdon were dismissed for 121 – 50 runs short of their target.

The third XI had much the better of their match at home to Grappenhall on Sunday.

Young openers Joe Cannon (44) and Sam Battersby (45) got Sale off to a great start.

Rizvi then hit 59 as Sale posted 187-5 off their 45 overs.

Mal Clarke started the second innings well, removing Dave Tully to reduce Grappers to 0-1.

Spin twins Rizvi (3-41) and Cannon (2-42) reduced the visitors to 95-7.

Former Grappenhall firsts skipper Mike Holden then batted out for 36, added to his three wickets earlier in the day, to secure a draw, the points finishing 14-6 in favour of Sale.

Sale fourths lost by 137 runs at Disley, Vaasu Goyal taking 3-32 in the first innings.

On Wednesday, the Silverbacks completed a comprehensive win against Bowdon in the Over-40s competition.

The Silverbacks batted first, posting 149-3 from their 20 overs. Ian Holland, Rizvi and Nigel Davenport all retiring after reaching 30.

In reply, the visitors were always behind the required rate, only former Sale chairman Mosain Chohan with 31 retired made a score. Rob Moore (2-4) and Barry Craven (2-17) were the pick of the bowling.

Sale first XI travel to Davenham this weekend, while the seconds play the reverse fixture.

On Sunday, the third XI play at Alderley Edge.