Sale Cricket Club’s first XI continued their winning start to the Cheshire County League season in a low-scoring game at Lindow.

Sale were asked to bat first on a bowler-friendly surface at Lindow but made a solid enough start as Pat Ashling added 23 out of 35 for the first wicket.

Partner James Dodds was more circumspect as Sale found it difficult to build partnerships - the most substantial being the 37 added with Dan Newton (21 from 23 balls) for the third wicket.

When Dodds was fifth man out for a top score of 44 the score was 105.

Skipper Mike Bishop added 14 valuable late-order runs as Sale were bowled out for 148 in the 48th over.

The home side got off to the worst possible start as Newton and Amlyn Layton took a wicket each to reduce Lindow to 6-2.

Layton took centre stage as he mopped up 5-14 to put Lindow on the brink.

Lindow number nine Taylor Pentecost nearly pulled off a remarkable victory with 41, before Will Valentine took the last two wickets to give Sale a 40-run win.

Back at Dane Road, the second XI rued not batting out their 50 overs after winning the toss as they were dismissed for 183 in the 48th over against Oxton.

Opener Joe Molloy hit 64 at the top of the order, but saw partners come and go as Sale slumped to 52-4.

Useful lower-order contributions from Tom Jenkinson (38) and Omair Iqbal (25) helped Sale rally.

North West Thunder debutant Pheobe Graham kept things tight in the early stages and skipper Gareth Watterson, with 3-31, kept the Oxton reply in check.

At 113-5 Sale remained in the game, however an unbeaten 41 from Callum Andrews saw the visitors home by two wickets using one of the extra overs Sale had conceded in the first innings.

Sunday’s third XI T20 cup derby against Ashton on Mersey was washed out without a ball being bowled.

This Saturday, the seconds host Brooklands and the first XI travel to Urmston.