YOUNG guns Dan Newton and Isaac Brooks helped Sale to a third successive win that moved them into the top half of Division One of the Cheshire County League with a thumping nine-wicket win against Davenham on Saturday.

The upturn in fortunes for Sale has coincided with the promotion of 16-year-old Newton from the second XI.

He has proved to be an effective new-ball bowler and soon had Davenham in trouble after they elected to bat first at Dane Road.

Newton knocked over the first three wickets in his permitted seven overs to put Sale in charge.

After removing opener Chris Clarkson for four he immediately trapped Sam Robbins for a duck and then bowled Sam Hunt for 15 as the visitors reached 41-3.

Then, 15-year-old spinner Brooks got in on the act, bowling opener Matt Nichols for a top score of 25 and he picked up two further wickets to leave the visitors on 56-6.

Experienced twirler Rick Halkon then came on the clean up the tail, taking two wickets as Davenham subsided to 98 all out in the 43rd over.

After tea Sale went on to show there were no demons in the pitch as they coasted home for the loss of just one wicket inside 23 overs.

Greg Gyves opened up with a typically breezy 32 out of an opening stand of 42 to get Sale off to a flying start.

His dismissal brought in Lawrence who saw the home side to their target with an unbeaten 44, well supported by 24 not out from Mat Spells.

The seconds are struggling to replace Newton as they suffered a 44-run defeat at Heaton Mersey.

Sale looked in control at tea after dismissing the home side for a below-par 131. Skipper Gareth Watterson (3-36), Tom Riley (3-49) and Viraj Sorathia (3-6) did the damage for Sale.

However, a terrible batting display in the second innings cost Sale the match, with only Ryan Burgess (23) and Santhosh Rijasekran (18) reaching double figures.

Young continued to lead the way on Sunday as Saad Khan and James Dodds helped the third XI restrict visitors Hyde to 179-7.

Khan opened up with 2-18 and Dodds tied up the middle order with 3-40.

Experience took over in the second innings as skipper Soans Praveen opened up with 60 and an unbroken stand of 90 for the fourth wicket between Ian Habershon (38) and Asad Khan (41) saw Sale home inside 34 overs.

The fourth XI suffered a heavy defeat against Bowdon thirds despite a promising start.

Bowdon recovered from 43-3 to post 268-5, Arnav Kamble and Jared Moran taking two wickets.

In reply, Sale subsided to 88 all out.

Earlier in the week, Newton hit 89no as the second XI went down by three runs in their T20 cup match against Hale Barns, while the over-40s match at Bowdon on Wednesday was rained off.

On Saturday, the first XI visit high-flying Bramhall and the seconds play the reverse fixture, while on Sunday, the third XI travel to Marple and the fourths host Macclesfield.