HALE Barns Cricket Club's first XI suffered a disappointing 38-run defeat to Stockport Georgians in Cheshire Cricket League Division One as the visitors wilted in sweltering heat.

Teenagers Ollie Latter and Ben Staniforth performed admirably, with Latter claiming three wickets, while Staniforth top-scored with 33, but Barns fell short of the required target.

The day began well for Hale when Ben Hicks produced an early breakthrough with the score on 9-1 after they had won the toss and inserted the hosts.

Andrew Splatt and Nick Johnson ensured Georgians remained unscathed for the rest of the early overs until the former was run out by Jordan Collins, before Hicks (2-45) took a second victim to reduce Stockport to 59-3.

However, Johnson continued to offer stern resistance and was ably assisted by Christopher Dodd as the pair added 57 to the total.

Despite Schora (1-37) sending Dodd back to the pavilion for 22, Jon Keogh joined Johnson at the crease and carried on the momentum with another half-century partnership.

Keogh struck three maximums in a brutal 32 from just 26 deliveries, while Johnson reached a more patient 72, but both knocks were ended by Latter as Hale fashioned a late revival.

Latter (3-9) claimed another dismissal, while Christian Dodson got in on the act with two wickets of his own as Stockport completed their allotted overs on 192-9.

In reply, Chris Colley and Joe Cooper found the boundary with regularity but both were removed by Dodd as the away side slipped from 30-0 to 42-3.

Mike Hunter and Staniforth worked hard to rebuild the run chase and compiled a partnership worth 55 for the fourth wicket until another succession of wickets all but ended Hale’s hopes of victory.

Splatt (3-43) dismissed both Hunter (29) and Staniforth (33), while Oliver Ormerod (2-37) took two more as Barns collapsed from 97-3 to 108-7.

Captain Dodson tried his best to salvage the innings with a run-a-ball 31, but Dodd (4-39) returned to the attack to claim the remaining wickets as the team were bowled out for 154 with 10 balls left.