Barrow Gurney 1sts recorded their third consecutive win on Saturday as they entertained Abbots Leigh in a high-scoring game. A blisteringly hot day, a fast outfield and Barrow’s bijou ground was made for batting and so it proved for long periods of the game. 15 balls were lost over the boundary to boot.
Abbots Leigh batted first and despite the high quality bowling of Ed Holdaway and James Riley, put on 50 for the first wicket. Mark Fisher, coming on as first change, started to make inroads into the opposition batting line up (eventually taking 3/37) by bowling the opening bat. But by the time Matt Owen had chipped in with a wicket and Frank Forge (2/48) had exposed the middle order, the score had advanced to 156 before Mark claimed the fifth wicket with a run out. Abbots Leigh continued to build a total with contributions from most of their batsmen before late wickets for Holdaway (2/34) and Fisher’s last 2 wickets bowled them out for a competitive 269.
In reply Barrow started positively through captain Phil Milton and Bernie Forge but they were both dismissed as the score touched 40 off 5 overs. Mark Brown then came to the crease and in an innings of typical vigour and clean hitting began to take the game away from the visitors, scoring 94 off only 75 balls. He received good support from Guy Fisher (30) before Ed Holdaway added more firepower in seeing Barrow home with 4 overs to spare with 78 not out.
With the season at its mid-point, Barrow remain mid-table and look forward to playing Bath 4ths next weekend.
Things did not go so well for the seconds at Patchway as the home side scored 242-6, with only Adam Brace (3/35) having much success in restricting the team batting first. Barrow never looked like getting close and faltered to 120 not out after Ali Hood was dismissed for 31. This set back leaves Barrow in mid-table with a visit to Twyford House in prospect next Saturday.
A hot and humid afternoon with the prospect of a heavy shower was the weather forecast which greeted the players at Hobbs Lane on Sunday.
Carson’s openers faced a challenging new ball attack of Kieran Owen and the leg-spin of Guy Fisher. It was Kieran who struck first inducing a top edge which hit the other opener in the grille of his helmet and lobbed back to the bowler. The No 3 soon followed as Mark Fisher redeemed himself from missing a difficult chance when he was unsighted by the bowler, giving his brother his first wicket of the day.
In came the dangerous Digby who played a shot a ball and mostly connected, benefitting from another missed chance, he moved swiftly onto 36 before launching Guy to deep extra where Ben Thorne ran in to take another excellent catch. 2/42 for Guy off his 8 overs.
The fall of Digby was greeted by the introduction of Melissa Owen who now had the challenge of bowling to Mark Pitt who was approaching a half century. At the other end Frank Forge bowled the No 5 to make the score 94-4.
Soon after Melissa discovered some inswing and dip and began to trouble Pitt finally inducing him into clipping one in the air to Guy. Then Carsons began to fold as Bernie Forge took 2 excellent stumpings, one off her brother and another standing up to Adam Brace. 2/24 for Frank before Oscar Livesey came on to mop up the tail (2/20). Carsons 141 all out off 32.2 overs.
So an early tea, courtesy of Laura Owen, was enjoyed by all before Barrow began their attempt to overhaul the opposition total under cloudy and rather threatening skies.
Kieran and Mark Fisher started slowly against a decent attack with young Redfern eventually bowling Kieran for 9 and then getting James Riley caught behind soon after. After a break for a rain shower Mark Fisher began to score freely taking 4 fours off an over. Ben Thorne offered good support at the other end defending well and pulling a couple of boundaries before Adam Brace was a victim of indecision and the slippery ground, being run out whilst in a prone position in the middle of the wicket.
89-4 and still work to do as Mark was serenely moving through the gears and he despatched the winning runs over the hedge for his second 6, only the finishing line could deprive him of a century but 90 not out was a fine knock helping the Sunday XI to a much-needed win.