SALE'S first XI retained their place in Division One of the Cheshire County League on Saturday after beating Bollington at Dane Road by five wickets.

Bollington won the toss and unusually asked Sale to bat first on a great-looking batting track.

They got off to a great start as skipper Rick Hough and Andrej Yakesender added 145 for the first wicket.

Andy Millward made the breakthrough for Sale, bowling Hough for 62, and then picked up a further three wickets to finish with a season's best of 4-56.

Millward’s fourth wicket was that of Yakesender for 104 with the score on 196.

Opening bowler Tyrone Lawrence then returned for his second spell, picking up two wickets as the visitors were restricted to 225-6.

Bollington made early inroads after tea as Sale found themselves at 54-4.

Lawrence and Ryan Burgess then put together the match-winning partnership as they first steadied the Sale innings, then accelerated, adding 166 for the fifth wicket.

Burgess was the main aggressor adding 84 off 80 balls before he was caught with just six runs needed, leaving Lawrence to finish the job with an unbeaten 85 to secure the win with two overs in hand.

Sale's second XI continued their fine form with a comfortable win at Warrington.

They bowled their hosts out for 116 inside 40 overs, Rob Merga taking 3-30 at the top of the innings, followed by Gareth Watterson (4-33) and Siyan Siraj (3-28).

Sale chased down their total for the loss of three wickets in the 31st over.

Opener Viraj Sorathia hit 44 at the top of the innings, well supported by Soans Praveen (24) and Dan Newton (22 not out).

Sale's fourths finished their season with a fine win at Bollington thirds on Sunday.

They dismissed their hosts for 120 in the 26th over, Max Bishop the leading bowler with 3-2, while Ivan Flitcroft, Mal Tazki-Quayle and Callum Ross all took two wickets each.

After tea skipper Chris Smith and fellow opener Theo Brodbeck got Sale off to a good start before the departure of Smith for 24 sparked the loss of a further four wickets.

Ibraheem Shareef then hit 30no, with the support of a patent 20no from Brodbeck, to see Sale to their target.

Sale's third XI had a walkover against Stockport, making it four wins out of four over the weekend.

On Saturday the first XI travel to Stockport and the seconds host neighbours Brooklands.