JOE Fretwell-Walsh produced a match-winning five-wicket haul as Hale Barns first XI secured an emphatic 46-run Cheshire Cricket League Division One victory against fourth-placed Barnton at Brooks Drive.

Joe Cooper made a half century to give the hosts enough runs on the board to defend, despite the best efforts of Barnton’s Adam Garrod, who also claimed five wickets.

Barns suffered an early setback as Mike Hunter was dismissed for seven to reduce the team to 19-1, but Cooper and Shehan Fernando calmly built a solid foundation.

The pair added 36 to the score before Fernando was trapped lbw by Garrod for 22, with Chris Colley (10) soon following the captain back into the pavilion.

Cooper continued to play with patience as he passed 50, but he became Garrod’s third victim for 58, before Simon Hancock (4-29) ripped through the middle order as the home side collapsed from 107-3 to 118-7.

And Garrod (5-28) cleaned up the tail to leave Ben Staniforth stranded on 12 not out as Barns posted 131 from 42.5 overs.

In reply, the visitors struggled to gather momentum early on as Dave Saddington and James Guest (1-15) both made early inroads, restricting Barnton to 27-2.

Cory Devanny and opener Jack Whalley rebuilt the innings, taking the score on to 59-2, but Devanny’s dismissal (18) opened the floodgates as Fretwell-Walsh ran riot.

The away outfit slumped to 64-6, with the wickets including Whalley for 30 to put Hale in command.

Mike Cross (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures, but he was also removed by Fretwell-Walsh to end any hopes of a Barnton revival.

Saddington (3-40) returned to the attack to claim two more wickets before Fretwell-Walsh (5-12) completed his five-for to seal the win for Barns as Barnton finished all out for just 85 from 35 overs to consolidate Hale’s position in sixth in the table with one game remaining.