SALE first team were again frustrated by a rear guard action that prevented victory and saw their lead at the top of the Vivio Cheshire County League Division One cut to four points after a winning draw against Tattenhall.

Opening batsman Ian Dixon top scored with 44 as Search sponsored Sale posted a below-par 153.

Sale got off to the worst possible start as Ryan Rickelton was bowled without scoring on a surface offering some assistance to the bowlers.

Dixon and Tyrone Lawrence counter-attacked to get the score to 51.

The departure of Lawrence for 21 saw wickets fall at regular intervals, including an unfortunate run out for the luckless Dixon.

A stand of 38 between Rob Grant (34) and Rob Greenhough (25) for the sixth wicket gave Sale something to defend as they were bowled out in the 46th over.

Tattenhall were favourites at tea due to the additional overs they received from bowling Sale out.

However tight bowling from Sale meant the home side were never in the hunt and batted out for a draw from an early stage.

The wickets were shared around as Rick Halkon (3-44), Tharshan Thayalan (2-21) and Lawrence (2-13) reduced Tattenhall to 115-9 with 8 overs to go, however the last pair of Williamson and Gibbon held on to secure a draw.

There was heartache for Sale as the final pair for Tattenhall survived the last eight overs meaning Sale only secured 11 points instead of the maximum 25 had the final wicket fallen.

Sale second team only had themselves to blame for losing at home to Tattenhall’s second string as they drop a number of catches defending a modest total of 135.

Matt Millward top scored with 37 and Mike Wolanski chipped in with a useful 22 in Sale’s disappointing total. Sale had Tattenhall in trouble at 60-3, but after spilling a number of chances the visitors cruised to a 5 wicket victory with 11 overs to spare.

Sale 3rd XI suffered a heavy defeat at Romiley on Sunday. Sale found a very wet wicket after the home side had left the wicket uncovered overnight. Sadly for Sale they lost the toss and could only muster 131-9 thanks to a late order recovery led by Nick Brooks (33 not out).

After tea the wicket gradually dried out as Romiley coasted home for the loss of 5 wickets