HALE Barns first XI suffered a tough day at the office as they were soundly beaten by eight wickets having been exposed by a rampant Port Sunlight bowling attack in Cheshire Cricket League Division One.

Only two batsmen reached double figures, with Mike Hunter providing the only display of sustained resistance as Barns tasted defeat for the first time in 2017.

Hale were instantly put on the back foot by opening bowlers Jimmy Roberts and Taylor Cox, with the latter in particularly devastating form.

The overseas player dismissed the top three, including second-highest scorer Joe Cooper for 13, to reduce the visitors to 29-3 from 16 overs.

Roberts (1-29) remained disciplined and was rewarded with a wicket of his own, while Cox (4-28) produced a fourth dismissal to push Barns on the ropes at 58-5.

Hunter managed to see off the opening partnership and began to score more freely after a change of bowling, but the resurgence was short-lived for Hale when Martin Naylor (5-9) ripped through the middle and lower order.

The spinner claimed five victims, including Hunter for a steely 41 off 85 deliveries, as the away team collapsed from 83-6 to 95 all out with 5.3 overs of the innings to spare.

Port Sunlight’s run chase began with a stutter when Christian Dodson (1-15) removed opener Ben McPherson (seven) with the score on 18-1 after four overs.

But any glimmer of a Hale fightback was extinguished by Danny Jones and Wayne Greve, who carefully negotiated the new ball.

Dave Saddington (1-2) bowled with typical consistency, producing three maidens in his five-over spell and gained a breakthrough when he clung onto a caught-and-bowled chance offered by Jones (26).

But by that time, the hosts were already beyond halfway to the required total at 51-2 with just 12 overs bowled and Barns were unable to make any further inroads.

Greve (27 not out) and Chris Newton (26no) calmly eased towards the target inside 23 overs to give Port Sunlight their first victory of the season, meaning they leapfrog Hale by a point into sixth in the table.