HALE Barns first XI ended the Cheshire Cricket League Division One season with an emphatic eight-wicket win at Lymm Oughtrington Park.

Joe Fretwell-Walsh scored an unbeaten 82, while Shehan Fernando bowed out in his final appearance for the club with a half-century as the visitors romped to victory.

Lymm made a promising start with Jonathan Fletcher benefiting from some loose bowling to shift the score onto 43-0 after 14 overs.

His opening partner Sean Day (three) struggled to get going at the other end and was finally removed by Jack Wylie (1-30).

Fletcher was joined at the crease by Liam Ramsbottom and the duo continued to play aggressively until the former was sharply stumped by Mike Hunter off the bowling of Callum Schora (1-21).

Ramsbottom carried on chancing his arm and was eventually undone for 34, becoming Fretwell-Walsh’s first victim.

With 11 overs remaining the hosts were in a strong position at 135-3, but they suffered a setback when Fretwell-Walsh dismissed Jason Roberts for 26.

Dave Saddington (2-33) then chipped in with two late wickets, including Travis Scholes for 33, with Peter Stubbs (1-24) also claiming one of his own as Lymm posted 191-7 from their allotted overs.

In reply, Hale’s run chase began in difficult fashion when Hunter (two) was sent back to the pavilion by Blair Weller (1-31) to reduce Barns to 13-1.

But Fretwell-Walsh and Fernando eased any nerves with both batsmen providing strong resistance to frustrate the home bowling attack.

The pair put on over 100 for the second wicket with Fretwell-Walsh the first to raise his bat for a fluent half century.

Fernando soon joined Fretwell-Walsh in reaching the milestone, but was unable to complete his two-year stint at the club not out as his wicket fell for 57.

Ben Staniforth ensured there would be no collapse as he accelerated the scoring, carrying his bat with a rapid 35 to steer the away team towards the required total.

And Fretwell-Walsh (82 not out) remained at the end as Barns sealed the win with five overs to spare to complete the campaign with back-to-back victories.