SALE Cricket Club's first XI suffered a heavy eight-wicket loss at Urmston on Saturday that saw them drop into the bottom two of Division One of the Cheshire County Cricket League.

Sale elected to bat first, but soon found themselves in trouble, losing both openers early and wickets at regular intervals.

Only Tyrone Lawrence, batting at number three, showed the necessary application with 55.

However, wickets continued to tumble around him, 68-5 became 97-7 before the visitors were bowled out for a below par 116 as no other batsman made double figures.

Opening bowler Cole Turner again shone with the ball for Urmston with figures of 3-51.

However, the plaudits went to Nathan Turner, who bowled beautifully to end with figures of 4-13 and he was ably supported through the middle overs by Chris Barlow, the off-spinner taking 2-16 off his 10 overs.

Urmston showed some early nerves as Sale took two early wickets and the hosts were on 10-2.

But Callum Turner (67 not out) and Lewis Jackson (31no) steadied the ship and saw them home with a 100-run partnership to give Urmston their first win of the campaign.

Sale's second XI encounter at Dane Road was a far closer affair, finishing as a draw as Sale ended up 11 runs short in their pursuit of Urmston’s total.

Young Cheshire spinner Isaac Brooks took 3-36, well supported by two wickets apiece for Tom Riley and Syan Siraj as the visitors were restricted to a below-par 188-8.

Sale lost early wickets and fell behind the required rate, before 45 from Grant Whittaker and 35 from Sam Battersby put them back into contention.

Dan Newton marshalled the tail well with an unbeaten 48, but ran out of overs as Sale closed on 177-8.

Sale's third XI suffered their own collapse at home to Grappenhall on Sunday, Moh Rizvi top scoring with 24 as the home side were bowled out for 111.

Grappenhall looked to be struggling in pursuit of their modest target as Shah Zeb and Abbas Rizvi knocked over the first four batsmen, before David Seed dug in to see the visitors home.

The fourth XI had much the better of their match at Hyde where Ian Harbershon hit an unbeaten 114 as Sale posted 230-4.

Hyde held on at 105-9 to deny Sale the outright win, Isaac Brooks the leading protagonist with 5-9.

On Saturday the Sale's first XI host Macclesfield and the seconds visit Cheadle.

On Sunday, the third XI welcome Didsbury to Dane Road and the fourths make the short trip to Ashton-on-Mersey.