Sale Cricket Club’s first XI continued their perfect start to the season with a barnstorming win at Urmston in the Cheshire County League on Saturday.

Young batsman James Dodds came of age with his maiden first-team century to see Sale home as rain threatened to ruin the game.

Sale got off to the perfect start after winning the toss as Dan Newton took two early wickets to reduce the home side to 26-2. Ryan O’Brien (105) and Liam Marshall (126 not out) fought back as they added 192 for the third wicket as the home side posted 263-3.

Sale set off in positive fashion. Despite losing Pat Ashling for 15, they were soon ahead of the rate as Dodds and Tyrone Lawrence added a run-a-ball 161 for the second wicket. Lawrence was next man out for 84 off 87 balls. With rain clouds gathering, incoming Newton took the attack to Urmston in an attempt to force the victory, but could not get Sale over the line before the rain arrived.

A tense wait saw 10 overs wiped off the second innings, leaving Sale just 4.1 overs to get 34 runs, but the young pair of Dodds and Newton were not to be denied. Newton continued his destruction to finish on 55 off 29 balls, the calm head of Dodds completing his first century to end 103no off 104 balls at Sale got home with five balls to spare.

Sale second XI had a disappointing loss at home to Brooklands as they once again failed to use their full 50 overs, bowled out for 150 in the 46th over with skipper Gareth Watterson top scoring with 32. The visitors coasted home for the loss of two wickets with 10 overs to spare.

On Sunday, Sale thirds’ good start to the season came to a halt at Stockport Georgians, routed for 38 in reply to the hosts’ 202-5.

The fourths beat Prestbury by six wickets. Brayden Ross and Naman Mudaliar took three wickets each as the visitors were held to 135-8. Shayan Imran, with a fine unbeaten 69, supported by Robert Shaw (30) saw Sale to their target inside 32 overs.