Sale Cricket Club’s first XI got back to winning ways on Saturday with a comfortable win against Alvanley in the Cheshire County League.

Visitors Alvanley won the toss and elected to bat first and made a steady start.

Trouble started when Michael Rowlands was bowled by Amlyn Layton with the score on 31, then a second wicket for Layton and a wicket each for spinners Isaac Brooks and James Dodds made it 58-4.

Henry Young (28) took the score to 109, but when he was caught and bowled by the returning Dan Newton, it prompted a collapse to 124 all out, Newton claiming 4-33.

Sale made short work of the reply as Pat Ashling and James Dodds added 61 for the first wicket before Dodds was trapped in front for 24.

Sale never lost another wicket as Ashling (63 off 73 balls) and Tyrone Lawrence (33 off 31) saw Sale to their target in the 24th over.

The seconds saw their match at Neston curtailed after a late afternoon thunder storm called an early halt to proceedings.

Sale looked in trouble at 118-7 after electing to bat first, before the tail wagged to get them up to a respectable 213-9 in 50 overs.

Chris Scott (36), Lionel Thompson (28) and Paolo Manfredi (30) all scored valuable runs.

Neston lost Ben Thomas early to Thompson, before Jamie Wilson (79) and Ian Gill (52 not out) added 97 for the second wicket. However, time was against them as the thunder clouds rolled in with the score on 153-3 in the 31st over.

Unusually, both the third and fourth XI’s had a blank Sunday.

Earlier in the week, the thirds reached finals day as they overcame Brooklands in the T20 Cup quarter-final after Brooklands had been restricted to 122-6.

Sale coasted home for the loss of two wickets inside 17 overs. Grant Whittaker (35), Tom Jenkinson (33) and Dattu Vadakuttee (35no) did the damage.

Sale Silverbacks tied at Ashley in their over-40s match after a chaotic final delivery saw the home side pick up two overthrows.

Sale had posted a seemingly inadequate 117-7, Gareth Watterson (30 retired) and Mark Rowe (26) the main scorers.

Tight bowling from Sale had them favourites going into the last over before Ashley somehow scrambled a tie resulting in three points to each side.