Bath 24 Sale Sharks 20: Bath's giant winger Matt Banahan pulled a Christmas cracker out of the bag to win this thrilling encounter and move his side up to second in the Guinness Premiership, writes Tom Morris.

With just 42 seconds left on the clock, the crowd erupted as Banahan plucked Alex Crockett's perfectly weighted cross kick from under Mark Cueto's nose and went over.

Sale had outscored their hosts by three tries to one before Banahan's fatal blow which was Bath's ninth win this season by a margin of six points or less.

The visitors had led 20-19 after two tries from England full back Mark Cueto and one from All Black centre Luke McAlister who had also added five points with his boot.

But four penalties from Butch James and an earlier try from Bath number eight Daniel Browne converted by James was enough to deny Sale victory.

And it was centre Crockett, the orchestrator of Bath's final try, who was left most surprised by his contribution.

"I am the worst kicker by a long way at the club," Crockett said. "And I was thinking my head is on the chopping block if Matt doesn't take this.

"I was going to pass early because Matt can always score himself but they rushed up so I was worried and stuck the ball in the air and he took it – unbelievable.

"There is a huge amount of belief in the team at the moment – we knew that even though we were down we could win but players don't want it to go to the wire every time.

"It's important to win all our home games, we need to turn the Rec into a fortress."

Banahan added: "The ball is in the air and you are just praying your skills don't desert you.

"It was amazing to go over – it was the most intense feeling I have ever had scoring a try.

"I couldn't have had a better reception from the crowd – it's all the people who come out to watch on a cold winter's night that makes the game special and to give them that as a present was great."

Sale had gone ahead after 11 minutes when Welsh scrum-half Dwayne Peel took a quick tap penalty giving McAlister enough of a head start on Joe Maddocks to beat him to the corner.

On 14 minutes Sebastian Chabal, who had already locked horns with Justin Harrison, punched Michael Claassens from behind.

Bath meted out immediate punishment. Peter Short rose at the close range line out and when the ball was fed out to Browne he was joined by the cavalry who bundled him over. James converted for 7-5.

On 22 minutes Sale prop Stuart Turner joined Chabal in the sin-bin for killing the ball as Bath went forward.

James added the resulting penalty for 10-5.

Chabal and England prop Andrew Sheridan did the groundwork and Cueto was able to squeeze over the line. McAlister converted on 37 minutes to give Sale a 12-10 lead but James struck again before half time to give Bath a 13-12 advantage at the break.

McAlister reclaimed the lead for Sale on 42 minutes when Bath failed to roll away but James replied on 47 minutes for a 16-15 lead when Sale used hands in a ruck.

On 66 minutes Sale looked to have scored the decisive try. Fly-half Charlie Hodgson showed soft hands to flick the ball inside to Cueto, who had a lot to do but checked his run to show a clean pair of heels to full back Nick Abendanon.

McAlister struck the upright with the easy conversion but Sale still led 20-16. James missed with a penalty on 69 minutes but landed on 73 minutes to keep Bath in touch at 20-19 before a series of bizarre events unfolded.

Bath stole a Sale lineout but immediately had the ball turned over and the chance was gone. Then Sale pinched a Bath lineout deep in their 22 but Bath replacement lock Stuart Hooper wrestled it back and the ball was moved wide to Crockett who put boot to ball and the rest is history.

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre said: "We came here to win and be physical and it was a fantastic game. I can't blame my guys: the only thing we didn't do was control the last three minutes."

Bath: N Abendanon (J Cuthbert 37-40 and 74); J Maddock, A Crockett, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, M Banahan, B James, M Claassens (S Bemand 68), D Barnes, L Mears (P Dixon 70), M Stevens (D Bell 70), J Harrison (S Hooper 64), P Short, J Faamatuainu (A Beattie 64), M Lipman (capt), D Browne. Sub not used: S Hape.

Scorers: Tries: Browne, Banahan. Cons: James. Pens: James (4).

Yellow card: Lipman (27).

Sale Sharks: M Cueto; C Bell, A Tuilagi (M Tait 69), L McAlister, D Doherty; C Hodgson, D Peel; A Sheridan (S Turner 72), N Briggs, S Turner (L Foure 47), S Chabal, D Schofield (B Cockbain 74), J White, L Abaham (L Faure 27-33), J Lobbe (capt). Subs not used: M Jones, C Fearns, R Wigglesworth, R Keil.

Scorers: Tries: McAlister, Cueto (2). Cons: McAlister. Pens: McAlister.

Yellow card: Chabal (14), Turner (22).

Att: 10,600.

Ref: D Rose.