SALE experienced contrasting fortunes in their double header against Bowdon on Saturday.

The second XI ran out comfortable winners by eight wickets in their Cheshire County League Division One encounter at Dane Road, only for the firsts to suffer a similar reverse at South Downs Road.

Bowdon second XI won the toss and elected to bat first, but soon regretted that decision as Sale skipper Gareth Watterson tore into the visitors' line-up.

The Bowdon openers put on 21 for the first wicket in what would prove to be their largest stand of the day, before Watterson took the first wicket in the fourth over.

Watterson struck again in the eight over to start a procession of wickets – only opener Simon Simons, with 24, made double figures.

Watterson knocked over the first six wickets to reduce the visitors to 49-6 and finish with remarkable figures of 6-20 off 15 overs with eight maidens.

Ben Watkins then got in on the act taking 3-16 as Bowdon subsided to 62 all out.

Sale made short work of the reply, reaching their target for the loss of two wickets in the 16th over.

Santhos Kumar (14) and James Dodds (nine) took the score to 30 before Ben Watkins (19) and Dan Newton (nine) then finished off the run chase to claim

the win.

The reverse game at South Downs Road followed a similar pattern, with Sale coming off second best.

They lost the toss and soon found themselves in trouble on a bowler-friendly surface, former first-class cricketer, Chris Ashling, and home skipper Matt Tully both taking five wickets as Sale slumped to 36 all out.

While a score approaching 100 might have been competitive the target of 37 was soon reached inside 10 overs.

On Sunday, the third XI started their league campaign with a comfortable win against Nantwich.

After restricting the visitors to 195-7, Sale knocked off the target for the loss of four wickets inside 39 overs.

Shah Zeb and Sandeep Yadala were the leading bowlers with two wickets each in the first innings.

After tea, Newton dominated the reply hitting an unbeaten 96, well supported by Muhammad Nadeem, with 58.

The fourths' season began with a difficult away fixture at Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge.

The match ended in a heavy defeat, but had started promisingly for Sale with the home team reduced to 14-3 by opening bowlers Joe Wicks (4-64) and Theo Brodbeck (2-6).

Thereafter, Sale faced a barrage of leg-side hitting from the home team and the bowlers did well to dismiss the hosts in the 38th over for 263.

Zeeshan Khan bowled tidily and picked up a first senior wicket (1-35).

Sale’s innings stuttered and stumbled to 31-7. Father-and-son act, Tris and Theo Brodbeck, combined to double the total.

Theo carried his bat (20 not out), showing great application and technique, while Ben Atkinson also impressed on his senior debut, being the only other player to make double figures.

But with five ducks, Sale closed on 71.

Earlier in the week, the over-40s' match against Bowdon and the first XI T20 cup game against Timperley both fell foul of the weather.

On Saturday, the firsts host Upton and the seconds make the short trip to Timperley, while on Sunday the third XI host Grappenhall and the fourths visit Lindow.