SALE'S first XI eased any relegation fears on Saturday after beating Oxton by three wickets to move 56 points clear of the drop zone in Cheshire County League Division One.

The Dane Road men asked Oxton to bat first with opening bowlers Tyrone Lawrence and Ali Barrowman taking two wickets each to reduce the visitors to 56-4.

A disastrous run out for Mahdi Quadri made the score 83-6 with 20 overs to go and Sale were looking at a modest chase.

However, the Oxton tail wagged as they eventually closed on 181-9, Lawrence finishing with 3-33.

Sale made a positive start after tea as they reached 62-2 at drinks, openers Matt Wilson and Joe Cannon contributing 24 and 28, respectively.

Lawrence anchored the rest of the innings as Sale continued to lose wickets in pursuit of their target.

Skipper Keith Wellings then hit 20 out of a partnership of 25 to take the score to 163 before he became the seventh man out with just four overs to go.

Fortunately for Sale, Rick Halton held his nerve, hitting the winning runs with an over to spare as he finished on 10 not out and Lawrence was 57no.

Sale second team's winning run and outside chance of promotion faltered in the reverse fixture at Oxton as they batted out for a draw.

Oxton posted 220-7, Dan Newton and Sasiraj Pushparajah both taking three wickets.

Sale reached 190-5 after tea, Newton completing a fine all-round performance with 78no, well supported by Dan Khan (40) and Sam Battersby (36).

The third XI had a vital win against Marple on Sunday that boosted their survival hopes. Sale bowled the visitors out for 131 in the 43rd over, Shah Zeb with 3-29 and Manoj Kumar 3-24.

Sale coasted to their target inside 28 overs for the loss of four wickets, Soans Praveen (33), Viraj Sorathia (30) and Sai Kumara (32) the main scorers.

Sale's fourths lost by nine wickets at Urmston after being bowled out for 140, skipper Iain Harrop posting 54 and Shane Osborne 27.

On Saturday, the second XI host Widnes at Dane Road and the firsts play the reverse fixture.