A blazing hot day at Hobbs Lane heralded the start of the league season. Twyford House A were the visitors as Barrow 2nds fielded a team without a couple of regulars from last season.
Electing to have first use of the new ball, Ellie Holdaway would have hoped for an early breakthrough as she watched from her new vantage point behind the stumps. A couple of edges though did not go to hand and despite the accurate bowling of Steve Owen in particular, the opening batsmen began to build a significant partnership. Leo Brace would finally induce a false shot having Opie caught at cover for 38.
When Mike Lilley quickly despatched the new batsman, there was a glimmer of light, but this was quickly extinguished with the arrival of Devon White. With the orthodox Drew Holmes on his way to batting through the innings for a classy 66, White launched an onslaught of clean hitting clearing the ropes several times, surviving only one real chance off the only shot he skied. As the Barrow fielders toiled in the heat White reached his century before Holmes (who had a substantial head start) had made his fifty. White perished in the final overs for 107, well-caught by Pete Rooney off Ellie who had relinquished the gloves to bolster the bowling attack.
256-3 was a big total to chase and far to big, so it proved for Barrow. Wickets fell regularly, and no batsman made a telling contribution. Mark Gracey made 22 before being bowled round his legs and had a lengthy partnership with his skipper. Paul Gard also got into double figures as did Adam Brace with some late resistance, but the lower order found the left arm spin of Aaron Williams too much to cope with as he took a remarkable 5/10. Without the top-scoring contribution of extras, which accounted for almost half the runs, Barrow would have not got close to the 2 batting points they eventually achieved. All out for 126.
A tough start to the 2018 campaign. The seconds head to Chilcompton next week.