HALE Barns Cricket Club's first XI are still searching for their first home win of the season in Cheshire Cricket League Division One after suffering defeat to Bredbury St Marks by 92 runs at Brooks Drive.

A half century by opening batsman Darren Carr and a five-wicket haul for Chris Wood were the notable contributions as the visitors eased to a comfortable victory.

Bredbury made a slow start with the bat as Carr and Rick Keyworth patiently took the score onto 23-0 from the first 10 overs.

The away team began to increase the rate, tallying 58 for the first wicket before Shehan Fernando (1-18) finally made the breakthrough in the 20th over as Keyworth miscued an aggressive shot to point.

Mike Woodall joined Carr at the crease and continued the rise in momentum as the duo added 64 in 15 overs together until Carr was removed by Callum Schora (2-43) for a well-made 50.

Woodall then became Schora’s second victim for 38, while Ben Hicks (2-41) returned to the attack to claim two wickets of his own, as well as a direct hit run-out by Jack Wylie as Bredbury stuttered to 155-6 from their allotted overs.

In reply, Barns made a terrible start as both openers Chris Colley (three) and Mike Hunter (two) were dismissed by Graham Barlow (2-28), while Fernando (six) also departed inside the opening 10 overs with the hosts reduced to 13-3.

Wood claimed two more wickets in quick succession, but Khawar Iqbal offered some resistance, becoming the only batsman in the top seven to reach double figures.

The collapse continued as Iqbal was sent back to the pavilion for 15 with the score on 39-7, with Wood (5-19) completing his five-for.

Nick Lathbury (11) was the only other batsman to make double figures, but it was Andy Whittaker’s (3-7) turn to get amongst the wickets as he ripped through the lower order to restrict the hosts to a miserable 63 all out.

The result lifts Bredbury above Hale Barns in the table, with Barns dropping to seventh and a distant 44 points adrift of leaders Ashton on Mersey.