SALE started the second half of the season with a fine double win against Urmston in Division One of the Cheshire County League.

A fine team performance secured a comfortable win for the first XI and an outstanding individual performance from Sam Battersby for the seconds also brought them a victory.

Sale won the toss and invited Urmston to bat first in the first XI fixture at Dane Road and Ali Barrowman made the early breakthrough, removing danger man Cal Turner for just four.

Max Buckley (17) and Arav Shetty (30) moved the score on but could not get the run rate above three an over.

Buckley was first to go, bowled by Isaac Brooks, with Tyrone Lawrence dismissing Shetty.

Rich Adams then removed the Urmston middle order as Chris Turner was caught at the wicket for 16, Josh Espley was bowled, and top scorer Sumit Panda was stumped for 32.

Brooks then cleaned up the tail, including two more stumpings for Chris Canning, as the visitors were dismissed for 146 in the 49th over.

Brooks finished with 4-35 and Adams 3-20.

Sale reached their target relatively comfortably after tea.

Urmston sensed an opening after Sale lost their fourth wicket, before an unbeaten stand between Lawrence (48 not out) and Canning (47no) saw Sale to their target inside 32 overs.

Sale seconds looked up against it at the halfway stage of their match after Urmston had declared on 238-5 in the 47th over to give themselves three extra overs to bowl Sale out.

Young spinners Viraj Sorathia and James Dodds picked up three wickets between them.

But Urmston had not banked on an outstanding individual performance from Battersby who, after keeping for 47 overs, opened for Sale and proceeded to bat the next 51 overs for a magnificent 143no off 147 balls, including 20 fours.

Together with Sorathia he added 111 for the first wicket, before Sorathia went for 44.

Jamie Coombes (47no) then joined him and helped add another 128 for the second wicket to see Sale to their target and a nine-wicket victory.

Another run fest at Dane Road on Sunday saw the third XI pick up a seven-wicket win against Alderley Edge.

The visitors won the toss and posted a challenging 215-9 in 45 overs, Tejas Rao hitting 102.

Young spinner Dodds was the pick of the bowling for Sale with 3-54.

Sale reached their target with two overs to spare, Dodds and Sorathia setting the foundation with an opening stand of 83.

Sorathia batted through, being left stranded on 99no, well supported by Asad Khan (32no).

Earlier in the week, Sale Silverbacks lost to divisional leaders Cheadle Hulme in the Over-40s' completion, Mark Rowe hitting 26 and Keith Wellings 16 runs and taking 2-8 with the ball.

Saturday sees the Sale derby with the first XI hosting Brooklands at Dane Road and the seconds playing the reverse fixture.

On Sunday, the thirds travel to Nantwich and the fourth XI entertain Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge.