THE weather had a major impact on Sale Cricket Club’s fixtures in the Cheshire County Cricket League last weekend with the first XI match against Oxton in Division One abandoned after just 53 overs.

Sale were asked to bat first by visitors Oxton in a game reduced to 80 overs.

Ali Barrowman top scored with 31 as Sale posted 158-9, while Greg Gyves (29), Jeremy McFarlane (28) and Ben Watkins (24) all made positive contributions.

In reply Oxton had reached 43-0 before the rain returned and the game was abandoned.

Sale's second XI picked up 11 points from their trip to Congleton.

After being asked to bat, Jamal Benzafar hit 70 as Sale posted 227-9 in 50 overs.

The game was finely balanced with Congleton on 103-3 off 25 overs when the rain arrived.

The thirds saw their lead at the top of the Sunday Premier League reduced after securing a draw at home to Hyde.

Sale asked the visitors to bat first, holding them to 164-9 with Abas Rizvi, Zikria Nadeem and Meisam Syed all taking two wickets each.

The run chase fell 17 runs short, as Sale closed on 147-9 in their 45 overs – Mohammed Rizvi holding the innings together with 55 not out.

Earlier in the week the Silverbacks over-40s side lost their top-of-the-table match at home to Urmston by 12 runs.

The Silverbacks bowled well to hold the visitors to 102-8, Paul Hanrahan taking 3-14.

In reply the Silverbacks lost wickets at regular intervals, only opener Asad Khan (21) came to terms with the Urmston attack.

Some late-order hitting from Ian Holland (23no) gave Sale hope, but the asking rate was too much.

On Saturday, the first XI visit Bollington and the seconds play the reverse fixture.

On Sunday, the thirds travel to Grappenhall and the fourth XI host Ashley.