Hale Barns First XI climbed into the top half of the Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 table after cruising to a seven-wicket win against Mobberley CC at Brooks Drive.
Ben Hicks and Younas Saeed were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets apiece, while Tommy Smith and Joe Cooper both played fluent innings to guide Barns to a comfortable victory.
The hosts won the toss and elected to field, which proved to be an inspired decision as Sam Smith (2-22) sent both openers back to the pavilion without scoring before Hicks claimed two dismissals of his own to restrict Mobberley to 11-4.
Matt Mountney and Abdul Aqeel showed terrific concentration and resilience to lead a revival for the away side, putting on 63 for the fifth wicket. However, Saeed’s consistent spell was rewarded with three dismissals in quick succession, including Mountney for 28, with the young bowler claiming impressive figures of 3-10 from eight overs.
Phil Dodd (2-17) then got in on the act with two wickets of his own, including the stubborn Aqeel (38), while Hicks (3-27) returned to the attack to claim the final dismissal, leaving the visitors all out for 108 from 36.1 overs having lost their final five wickets for just 24 runs.
T Smith and Cooper were tasked with leading the run chase and both scored freely from the off, reaching a fifty partnership within 12 overs. The pair took the total to 70 unscathed until T Smith finally departed for a well-made 37.
Cooper (36) was removed soon after, while Campbell Vadlja came and went for 10, but the away team ultimately gave themselves too much to do as Barns eased to the required target in less than 25 overs, with Khurram Hussain ending unbeaten on 16.