Salford Blue Jays secured their third win of the GMACL season after thrashing Foresters at St Paul’s on Sunday to leapfrog them and go fifth in the third division.

Victory was all the more sweeter as it saw SBJ avenge their Challenge Cup bowl-out loss earlier in the season.

Winning the toss, Foresters surprisingly chose to bat on a green top pitch. They made a solid start reaching 30 before captain, Shawn Steele, chipped Josh Henry to gully where Caleb Blake leapt forward to take an excellent tumbling low catch.

Grant Pakter then removed the other opener, the dangerous Munaser Natha, for 11 as Ross Bloomberg took the first of his three catches at cover. Pakter’s excellent spell of fast bowling was rewarded with a second wicket as he posted figures of 2-16 off his six overs.

The introduction of Jonny Wineberg produced two more quick wickets to leave Foresters struggling at 39-5. They tried to fight back but Wineberg (3-14 off 5) and Caleb Blake (6-2 off 3) saw Foresters innings quickly wrapped up in just 18 overs for a total of 62.

Salford’s reply started brightly before Josh Dansky was caught down the leg-side off the finest edge, followed shortly after by Henry being run out to leave them at 21-2.

A 32-run partnership between Adnan Azhar and Pakter was ended when Adnan was bowled for 13. Pakter (24 not out) then saw Salford home with no further casualties as they reached 63-3 in just 14 overs.