It was a doubly successful week for Barrow Gurney First XI beating Bath 3rds in the Tony Hitch Cup and then following that up with a good win away at local rivals Blagdon.
Acting captain Jason Cryans got Barrow off to a good start on Saturday on a tricky pitch at Blagdon following some overnight rain. His 41 got Barrow off to a reasonable start but the innings faltered with the lose of the in-form Mark Brown and Ed Holdaway along with their skipper to leave Barrow 62-4. Guy Fisher began circumspectly and survived an early chance as together with Ben Hodges (27) the score crawled to a hundred, when Guy was joined by twin brother, Mark they injected some quicker running allied to picking off the short ball for boundaries. Their partnership of 68 was crucial to building a total, but when Mark fell for 27 Barrow failed to capitalise fully on the base they had and only managed 209-9. An exhausted Guy Fisher came off to great applause having applied himself well for an unbeaten 65 in the searing heat.
Guy Fisher’s unbeaten 65 was a key part of Barrow’s innings
In reply Blagdon lost both openers as Jonny Sykes and Ed Holdaway struck early, but the experienced Jeremy Board in partnership with James Ruscow steadied the ship. Two quick wickets from Mark Fisher swung the game Barrow’s way as he bowled Board and then took a sharp caught & bowled to dismiss the Blagdon captain. Ruscow though looked likely to put those setbacks behind him until, having reached his half century, he miscued off Frank Forge and was well caught by Mike York. Forge then struck again to match Mark Fisher’s bowling figures of 2 for 30, but Blagdon were still up with the rate. Only a tight 5 overs from Nick Heal and a couple of wickets from Ed Holdaway, including a brilliant diving caught & bowled, pegged Blagdon back to the point that they needed 35 off 3 overs which proved too much as they fell 18 short with one wicket left. Holdaway took 3 for 30.
Ed Holdaway’s 3 for 30 pegged Blagdon back
Earlier in the week a magnificent 89 from Cryans set up a mammoth Barrow total of 211-6 at Hobbs Lane against the higher ranked Bath 3rd team. Jordan Allen’s 38 not out at the end of the innings helping to set the challenging target. Ed Holdaway’s 5 over spell of 3 for 23 put the visitors in a position where they never got close to the rate required and Barrow ran out winners by 67 runs. A local derby against Backwell Flax Bourton is the reward in 2 weeks’ time.
Jason Cryans 89 helped Barrow build a large total
Barrow Gurney 2nds lost to Midsomer Norton 3rds at Hobbs Lane on Saturday. The visitors made 278-7, with Peter Rooney taking 3 wickets for 47. Barrow’s reply was built around half centuries for Ellie Holdaway (52) and Jordan Allen (68) but they did not receive enough help from the lower order batters and were on the wrong side of a 51 run result.
Jordan Allen’s 68 was the batting highlight for Barrow 2s