There was no change at the top of Division One of the Cheshire County League on Saturday after the top three sides all won.

Third-placed Sale needed to show all their resolve to win a tight game at strugglers Alvanley.

The home side made a confident start after being asked to bat first by Sale, reaching 54 before Michael Rowlands was bowled by Tyrone Lawrence for 28.

Eight runs later, George Walker ran out fellow opener Henry Young for 30.

Sale were eyeing up a short chase as Alvanley continued to lose wickets to the rampant Lawrence. Two wickets on 128 and a further wicket on 132 saw the score on a precarious 132-8.

Tony Honeysett (29 not out) and James Ecclestone (24) then added 36 for the eighth wicket before the home side eventually closed on 176-9, Lawrence finishing with a season’s best 6-31.

Sale lost out-of-form Pat Ashling early before Lawrence and Mat Spells added 50 for the first wicket.

As in the first innings, wickets fell in clusters. Lawrence was first to go for 38, soon followed by Spells for 21.

Fortunately for Sale, Dan Newton - at number four - dug in while partners were going at the other end. Mike Bishop and Walker both made starts but nobody was able to stay with Newton.

However, Newton and Sale were seemingly in control with three wickets in hand - and Newton on 72 off 86 balls, before one final twist in the tale. Newton was run out going for a second run to tie the score, all three results possible with one ball to spare.

Thankfully for Sale, Amlyn Layton kept his nerve, as he had done seven days earlier, punching two off the last ball to get Sale home off the final delivery.

Sale remain 20 points behind joint leaders Bowdon and Timperley with three games to go.

This proved to be the only cricket played by Sale over the weekend with a home match against Neston cancelled without a ball being bowled.

On Sunday, Sale were hosting the Sunday T20 finals day, but it was another washout in a very wet season.

The cancellation of Sale fourth XI’s trip to Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge did at least confirm that they finished champions of Division Four.

On Saturday, the firsts host Oulton Park and the second XI travel to Nantwich, while on Sunday Sale’s third XI travel to Didsbury.