SALE CC's first XI beat third-placed Oulton Park by four wickets on Saturday thanks to an unbeaten century from captain Chris Canning that closed the gap to second-placed Grappenhall to just 12 points.

With games around the league being rained off, Sale took the opportunity to gain ground on their nearest rivals in the Cheshire County League Division One.

With the worst of the weather avoided, Sale elected to field in what was a 92-over contest.

With both teams missing senior players, Oulton Park made a confident start.

Martin East and Danny Leech raced to 120 inside 20 overs before East was first to go for 68, shortly followed by Ben Tomlinson to a sharp catch by Brooke Guest at short cover.

Tom Hyslop joined Leech, who worked busily to take the score to 147 before Leech was bowled attempting to run Richard Adams to third man for 65.

Hyslop was well caught by Mat Spells on the leg-side boundary for 23 and Eddie Roberts was run out by Luke McCoy for just three.

Oulton Park had now lost five wickets for 64 runs since their opening partnership and Sale were back in the game.

Pat Roberts marshalled the tail with a quickfire 40 that helped the home side post 235-8 in their 46 overs. Tyrone Lawrence was the pick of the bowling with 3-53.

Sale made the worst possible start to their reply, losing Spells for a duck, leaving them 2-1.

Lawrence joined opener Guest and they began to play ever more fluently until Guest was run out by Pat Roberts after a calamitous mix-up for 43 – an innings that included three sixes and three fours.

Luke McCoy then skied a short Blandford delivery to substitute fielder Ben Kettle for four, reducing Sale to 63-3. Lawrence was joined by a limping Canning who immediately upped the run rate.

Canning passed 50 off 44 balls, including 24 from one Tomlinson over, in a stand of 97 with Lawrence before the latter fell for 47, well caught by Ashwell on the boundary.

Canning pressed on and took 24 off another over, this time from Matt Parkinson, to bring the target down to 51 off the final 15 overs.

After scampering two to complete his century (from 66 balls), he then launched his seventh six to bring the runs required below 20.

After two quick wickets, Canning hit Hyslop for six, dot, four, four to seal the four-wicket win with six overs to spare.  Canning’s innings of 121 not out off just 76 balls included 11 fours and eight sixes as Sale closed on 237-6.

Sale second XI’s home game against Upton was cancelled mid-morning after heavy rain.

The thirds secured their second win of the season against Cheadle on Sunday.

After bowling Sale out for 35 at the start of the season, the visitors once against asked them to bat first.

A much-improved performance on a wet surface yielded 178-8. Soans Praveen was the mainstay with 45 runs, well supported by Abbas Rizvi with 35.

In reply, Cheadle never got into their stride, Mal Clarke making early inroads with two wickets before a decisive spell of 3-4 from leg-spinner Joe Cannon saw the visitors bowled out for 87.

Tom Riley and Will Radcliffe also claimed a brace in a fine all-round performance.

Sale Silverbacks bounced back to winning ways with a convincing 37-run win against Cheadle on Wednesday.

Openers Mark Rowe (35) and Iain Harrop (34) both retired after setting a good platform.

After losing four cheap wickets in the pursuit of quick runs in the middle overs, Praveen (15) and Paul Hanrahan (14no) ensured a competitive 125-6 was posted.

In reply, Cheadle sent in Stevens and Hall as pinch hitters, reaching 26 off the first three overs.

However, both were run out as the Sale fielders kept their cool.

A miserly spell of 2-8 from Rizvi and 2-17 from Hanrahan meant the visitors innings petered out to 88-8.

The first XI host Warrington on Saturday, while the seconds play the reverse fixture.

On Sunday, the third XI travel to Hyde and the fourths host Timperley.