Barrow Gurney First XI enjoyed a double success last week after winning their opening round of the Batman T20 cup before completing a league win over Hanham 2s on Saturday.
In the cup, Barrow travelled to near neighbours Abbots Leigh and put the home team in on a slow surface after the recent rain. Accurate bowling and some good catching and ground fielding restricted the hosts to 92-8, with Ed Holdaway taking 2 for 17 to add to his 2 catches. In reply Barrow lost 3 early wickets but Mark Brown (40 not out) batted sensibly throughout the innings to steer Barrow into the quarter finals with the assistance of Jordan Allen (29).
A beautiful sunny day on Saturday at Hobbs Lane saw Barrow celebrating further success. After a solid batting display against Hanham the Barrow total of 196-9 was barely a par score. Several batters got a start: Bernie Forge (22), Mark Brown (32), Guy Fisher (22), Ed Holdaway (34) but none could go on to play the decisive innings.
Mark Fisher then bowled 8 miserly overs for only 22 runs, and the other Barrow bowlers continued to put scoreboard pressure on the visitors, whilst chipping away with regular wickets. Ed Holdway (2/29) and Jonny Sykes (2/23) were the most successful, with Ed also taking a stunning one-handed catch on the boundary to save a near-certain six. With the pressure mounting, 16 was needed off the last over, and with an early six, it looked possible for Hanham, but a runout removing top-scorer Ross Edwards for 63 left Barrow as winners by 7 runs.