SALE Silverbacks broke their duck with victory over neighbours Brooklands in their over-40s clash.

With rain affecting the weekend’s cricket programme the focus fell on the Sale derby in the Cheshire County League Over-40s competition and top-of-the-table Brooklands were looking to extend their lead of the North East Division against winless Sale.

Sale elected to bat first, but soon lost both openers cheaply.

Asad Khan continued his good recent form with 33 retired and, with Mark Rowe (31ret), got Sale up to a challenging total.

Stand-in skipper Keith Wellings then hit 17 down the order to ensure Sale posted 125-8.

In reply, Brooklands made a confident start, Ross Willard opening up with 20.

By the time White and Cutting had retired on 32 the visitors looked on course for victory.

Khan then showed his all-round skills with two wickets, both to smart catches in the deep from Hemant Sakpal, to bring the game back into balance before Wellings struck to secure a six-run win for Sale to move them off the bottom of the table.

Saturday saw a complete washout with the first and second XI matches, both against Bramhall, cancelled without a ball being bowled.

On Sunday both games were also rain affected, leading to premature finishes.

The third XI game was finely poised when the loss of six overs meant Sale finished 17 runs short with just one wicket remaining as their match at Marple ended in a draw.

Gareth Watterson had taken 5-47 and Ghani Khan 3-25 as the home side were bowled out for 185 in the 40th over.

In reply, Dan Newton hit 67 off 61 balls as Sale reached 169-9 in the 44 overs available to them following a rain break.

At Sale, the fourths did not reach halfway in their game before two heavy showers caused an early abandonment.

Young spinner Callum Ross took 4-51 as Macclesfield reached 182-5 off 36 overs before the rain arrived.

Earlier in the week, Sale first XI lost their dead rubber against Urmston in the T20 cup, Mike Bishop rolling back the years with 46 and Ben Watkins 22 as the Dane Road men lost by eight wickets.

This Saturday, the firsts make a first ever trip to Romiley and the second XI play the reverse fixture at Dane Road.

On Sunday, the thirds travel to Toft and the fourth XI host Ashton-on-Mersey.