SALE first XI suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat at Macclesfield in their Cheshire County Cricket League Division One match on Saturday.

Sale got off to the worst possible start, losing skipper Keith Wellings and Brooke Guest early to reduce the score to 8-2.

Mat Spells and Syan Siraj then added 52 for the third wicket before Siraj was caught and bowled by John Birchall for 24.

When Spells fell for 41, Sale were reduced to 72-5. After that only McFarlane made double figures as Sale were bowled out for 102 in the 36th over.

Macclesfield made short work of the reply, reaching their target for the loss of one wicket in the 22nd over – Birchall adding 64 not out to his 5-50 from the first innings.

Sale seconds also lost heavily, by eight wickets to Cheadle Hulme after posting only 87.

The third XI had a mixed weekend, losing to Didsbury by nine wickets on Sunday but beating Hyde by 14 runs in the T20 Cup mini league.

Abas Rizvi hit 90 in Sale’s 165-8 against Hyde, son Ali adding 28 and taking 2-27 as Hyde closed on 151-5.

Soans Praveen had top scored with 35 the previous day as Sale posted 126-8, before Didsbury coasted home for the loss of one wicket in the 17th over.

On Saturday the first XI host Warrington and the seconds travel to Middlewich.

On Sunday the third XI entertain Marple and the fourths start their campaign at Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge.