Barrow’s Under 15s travelled to Blagdon and skipper Kieran Owen lost the toss, allowing Blagdon to choose to bat.
Blagdon struggled for runs throughout with Frazier Thomas (1 for 10) finding some steep bounce from the outset. Tovey (16) and, in particular, Ake (17 not out) batted well keeping the scoreboard moving with a large number of extras boosting the score to 85 for 6 off 20 overs. Barrow’s fielding was most impressive with a great low catch from Guy Fisher and a sharp catch from Max Heron standing out. Ben Mead was the most successful bowler with 2 for 7 off his 2 overs whilst FinnHicks, Mark Fisher and Kieran Owen all picked up one a piece.
With a gettable total Barrow changed the usual batting order with Louis Bocock-Grace promoted to open. Alex Hales look out, as Louis got off the mark opening his shoulders to propel the ball, one bounce, into the Rectory gardens. Losing fellow opener Guy Fisher for 9, Louis consolidated with some dabs for singles before playing the shot of the day. A good length ball despatched over midwicket for six runs. Blagdon should be thankful that Barrow’s Frazier Thomas, who was waiting to bat, parried the ball before it smashed the new pavilion window onto the head of Max Heron who flicked the ball deftly into a slip-catching net nearby. But when Louis (26) perished, undone by one which beat the dashing blade, hit the pad and trickled onto the stumps, Barrow were well on their way to victory.
The major threat though was young Ake (4 for 12) bowling with spin, guile, flight and the blinding sun behind him. Barrow tried to foil the attack by the use of designer sunglasses but a minor middle order collapse left a few worried about the eventual result, before last week’s heroes Jackson Bryant and Bernie Forge brought the team home again. Jackson (15 not out) hitting a couple of powerful blows over midwicket, whilst Bernie (9 not out) off drove one for 3 almost leaving the fielder in the pond at the lower end of the ground before hitting the winning runs by despatching a no ball into the same pond in the next over.
Barrow won with over 6 overs to spare.