Barrow Gurney Firsts were involved in another thrilling match last Saturday as they ventured to Hanham to play their 2nd XI.
Guy Fisher was in the wickets again at Hanham
Acting captain Ed Holdaway was pleased to win the toss on finding a damp pitch so he inserted the hosts. The pitch and the large boundaries made scoring difficult, and the home team had to graft for a score against accurate bowling from Mark Fisher (6 overs for 12 runs) and his brother Guy, whose leg spin accounted for 3 Hanham batsmen at the cost of only 27 runs. Matt Owen also picked up a wicket (1/34) but Barrow were left ruing several dropped catches in the outfield as Hanham set a target of 179 off 40 overs with Will Paget making 94 of them.
Bernie Forge’s 70 set up the Barrow win
Barrow’s response also started slowly as Hanham’s impressive opening attack accounted for Jason Cryans (18) and Ellie Holdaway (17). Bernie Forge and Ed Holdaway then had to work hard to keep out the Hanham pace bowlers before Forge began to increase the pace being particularly effective with the sweep shot against the spinners and employing a range of drives. Ed Holdaway departed for 29 but Josh Yelland made a quickfire 23 as Forge passed her half century and ran several 2s and 3s to the long boundaries.
Josh Yelland made a quickfire 22
With 2 overs to go Forge was run out for well-made 70 and Barrow were left needing 20 off the last 2 overs. With the equation reduced to 11 off the last over, Ben Hodges, playing his first game for the team for several years, hit the first ball for 6 and when Guy Fisher also found the boundary with a couple of balls to spare, Barrow celebrated a fantastic win.
Jordan Allen celebrates his maiden hundred for Barrow 2s
Barrow 2s, coming off a good win away at Bradley Stoke on an artificial pitch the previous week, struggled at Hobbs Lane when two talented youngsters from Golden Hill 5ths, helped them to a score of 263. Peter Rooney took 2/29 and Steve Owen 2/61. Although the home side were rarely in the run chase, opener Jordan Allen started positively before a mid-innings collapse left the team 70-6. Allen continued to challenge the bowlers and hit 17 fours and a six reaching his maiden hundred. 101 out of 167 all out. Barrow Firsts now face their rivals for the leadership of Division 5, Bristol Sri Lankans, whilst the Seconds face Coalpit Heath 3s next week.