Barrow Gurney finished the pre-season with a 100% record after racking up a fourth win of the season against a Development XI of the Charlton Super Kings.
With a sprinkling of rain over night and in the morning many were sceptical this game would go ahead. Groundsman, Pete Holdaway did his customary morning inspection and concluded that conditions were playable. With CSK fielding a young side Barrow to bat first in a reduced overs game.
Ali Hood and Ben Saunders opened the batting and put on over 50 for the first wicket. With a long boundary on one side and a slow outfield due to the rain there were minimal boundaries but both ran well. Ben fell for 19 to a leg stump yorker and this brought Nick Heal to the crease. Some powerful shots from Hood and Heal offside and leg meant the score moved quickly both retiring n/o with scores of 50 plus. Josh Yelland making his debut batting at 4 hit a lovely back foot drive for 4 before being caught at mid wicket with one hit hard but picked out the fielder. Connor Jones and Jonny Sykes batted well stroking the bowling around before Connor was bowled playing a reverse sweep. Mike York hit a 4 then was given LBW and a few 4’s from Jonny in the last over left Barrow 201-4 off 35 overs.
Mike Lilley and Steve Owen opened up. Both kept it tight with Steve getting the reward getting 3 wickets including a bowled round the openers legs with Steve falling flat on his face and a nick off of the other opener. As is the way with pre-season if you’re doing to well you get taken off so Mike York and Frank Forge came on. Mike got a wicket with an inswinging yorker and Frank got a couple with some flighted deliveries before both being taken off. Charlotte Huntley (also making her Barrow debut) bowled full and straight without much luck but proved difficult to get away and Josh provided some good variety of off spin from the other end. Then overs from Nick (wicket caught behind), Connor and Ben to give everyone a go. Steve came back and got a 4th with Mike Y taking a skyer over his shoulder. Finally Jonny got the number 11 with a full toss again skyed to Mike.
So a win for Barrow by 93 runs sets the scene for the league season which starts next Saturday