Barrow Gurney’s 1st XI were frustrated in their search for victory at Bristol 3rd XI after a brilliant last wicket partnership allowed the opposition to steal an unlikely win.
Barrow had one of their worst batting displays of the year, gifting several of their wickets as they crumbled to 165 all out. Ed Holdaway’s 38 was the standout score, but he too fell to a full toss. Oscar Livesey defended stoically for his 21 to extend the innings, whilst captain Frank Forge was left 29 not out at the end.
Then Barrow’s bowlers struck early and looked to run through the Bristol side as Matt Owen (2/35), Connor Jones (3/27) and Ed Holdaway (2/23), saw the score at 48-8. When Forge took the 9th wicket at 73, it looked to be all over. But Harry Tiernan (65 not out) and Jude Hazelgrove (37 not out) played really well to eke out an unlikely finish.
Barrow 2nds were at home and bowled really well to restrict Midsomer Norton 3s to only 173-9 with Nick Heal (2/18) and Paul Gard (2/29) having most success.
After suffering an early reverse, Ellie Holdaway set herself to bat through the innings, and did so with some impressive shots and some good support at the other end from Heal (20), acting captain Ali Hood (28) and Dave Smith (18 not out). Ellie fell for 77, her highest score for Barrow, with only 6 needed to win; but these were soon knocked off to continue a good run by the team over the last month or so.
A sweltering Sunday in the park at Oldbury Court saw Barrow’s Sunday XI in action, with Gard this time delivering with the bat making 78 out of a total of 144 on an unpredictable wicket. Two wickets apiece for Jonny Sykes, Kian Ware and Frank Forge made it difficult for Bristol Bangladeshis but they did just enough to defy the heat and the bowlers to make their target with a couple of overs to spare.