First Team

Hale Barns First XI will compete in the Cheshire County Cricket League Division Two for the second successive season in 2019 after achieving promotion from the CCL Division One two years ago.

Khurram Hussain, a new signing for the 2018 season, top-scored with the bat, averaging above 30 with four half centuries, while Joe Cooper also racked up over 500 runs.

Cooper claimed the Player of the Year award for his all-round exploits, adding 44 wickets to his collection of runs. The new vice-captain shared the POTY prize with Ben Hicks, who bagged three five-wicket hauls and amassed 40 victims at an average of 15.63.

The team also enjoyed a tremendous cup run in the Cheshire Shield, which ended in silverware for a side consisting of eight homegrown players after a magnificent one-wicket victory over Stockport Georgians at Brooks Drive.

Australian batsman Vadlja was awarded man-of-the-match following a crucial 44 before Joe Fretwell-Walsh steered Barns to the required target with an unbeaten 23, which earned him HBCC Outstanding Performance of the Year 2018.