Barrow Gurney’s new first team skipper, Connor Jones, got off to a winning start at Congresbury on Saturday. After the first week of the season was washed out, this was the first time he had the chance to see how his team would perform in a higher division.
Bowling first on a beautiful day at the picturesque Congresbury ground, opening bowlers Mark Fisher and Ed Holdaway kept things tight and Guy Fisher and Jonny Sykes who came on first change also bowled well and beat the bat a few times but Congresbury moved passed a hundred with no chances having been given.
Frank Forge took 4 for 30
It was the introduction of flighted off spin that finally made the breakthrough as Frank Forge had Ben Lewis stumped by sister Bernie for a well made 58. Whilst keeping the run rate down Frank bowled in partnership with fellow off spinner Nick Heal and collected 3 more wickets with another stumping and 2 outfield catches finishing with 4 for 30 off his 8 overs, with Barrow’s fielders dropping 2 further chances off his bowling.
Congresbury’s Ben Cherson batted supremely well throughout the 40 overs, demonstrating some lovely cover drives as he made 82 not out off a total of 184-4.
Bernie Forge’s 34 put Barrow in a strong position
Barrow started out their reply comfortably with Jason Cryans taking advantage of a couple of loose deliveries and Bernie Forge steadily ticking over the scoring rate. Having reached the 50 partnership Cryans looked to be more aggressive but was caught in the ring for 31. Mark Brown then looked to be positive against the flighted spin of John Withers hitting a quickfire 18 before being bowled. When Bernie Forge mistimed a pull and was caught as square leg for 34. Barrow were 115-3 and comfortably ahead of the rate required.
Nick Heal receives congratulations on taking Barrow to victory
Justin Andrews joined Withers in the attack and Barrow’s middle order began to flounder as suddenly they found themselves 138-7. Nick Heal began to nurdle and sweep the spinners well but when Connor Jones was bowled round his legs 19 were still needed with 2 wickets remaining. But Heal managed to keep going and a couple of powerful boundaries from Jonny Sykes sealed the win. Heal’s 34 not out made him Barrow’s player of the match although Connor Jones also praised Frank Forge’s bowling and the superb all-round wicket-keeping and batting performance of Bernie too. Next week the team visits University Staff.
New skipper Connor Jones with Frank Forge and Nick Heal
Meanwhile Barrow 2s had their opening fixture at Hobbs Lane against Lansdown 3s. The visitors batted first and enjoyed a strong start with Andrew Steady (52) and number 3 Chris Sowton (82) making the running. There were a couple of wickets (2/34 in all) for Linden Alway on his Barrow debut and one a piece for Sam Mitchell, Phil Taylor and Paul Gard but the introduction of Charlotte Huntley into the attack quickly curtailed the Lansdown run machine with accurate slow bowling taking 5 for 26 in 7.1 overs. Barrow were still left to chase 216.
Ben Skuse (31) and Ellie Holdaway (30) got Barrow off to a good start and then Sam Mitchell took his chance at an unfamiliar position at number three to make his first half century for Barrow before being bowled for 62. Three consecutive ducks in the middle of the order set the run chase back, but a bright 21 from Linden Always and a typical fighting 17 not out from skipper Peter Rooney left the team 17 short and 1 run short of maximum bowling points.