It was a double celebration for Barrow Gurney Cricket Club on Saturday as both teams recorded maximum points wins placing them both in 4th place in their respective divisions of the Bristol & District League.
Ben Hodges and his runner, Mark Brown, both raise their bats as Hodges passes 50
The day did not start promisingly for the First XI, away at St Mary Redcliffe, as put into bat they slumped to 22-4. When Ben Hodges came in at 5 to join Josh Yelland and promptly pulled his hamstring, it seemed destined to be a bad day. However, with Hodges batting with a runner, he and Yelland put on 135 for the fifth wicket with an array of strokes around the wicket. The tail also chipped in with some useful runs to take the total to 232-9 at the end of the 40 overs.
Josjh Yelland celebrates another half century
Mark Fisher and Nick Heal then promptly dismissed Redcliffe’s opening batsmen before Amul Desai started to take control of the innings. After 20 overs Redcliffe were well behind the rate at 59-2, but Desai then upped the scoring rate before losing his partner, Cleon Coleman for 32, to a run out following an excellent throw from the boundary by Connor Jones. Desai then fell for 62 to a diving catch by the hobbling Hodges having managed to get the total moving at the required runs per over. George Aldous continued to do the same until Hodges took the second of three catches to give Mark Fisher another success. Fisher (4/26) then added to his tally before Kieran Owen quickly wrapped up the tail taking 3/31 as Barrow ran out winners by 46 runs.
Sam Mitchell’s good form continued with 62
Meanwhile at Hobbs Lane, the Second XI were putting together a good first innings score against Abbot Leigh 2nd XI. Last week’s centurion, Sam Mitchell, was once again in the runs making a fine 62, forming useful partnerships with Mark Gracey (43) and Matt Edgar who on his second team debut made 53 off only 38 balls. Barrow posted 246 for 8 in the 40 overs.
Matt Edgar hits 50 on his 2nd XI debut
An early wicket for Steve Owen (2/37 in all), knocked the visitors back and although a lot of batsmen got a start, wickets kept falling regularly to the accurate Mike York, who was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets for only 19 runs. Sam Mitchell, not satisfied with his batting efforts, also weighed in with 3 for 20. An 88-run victory was welcomed by skipper Peter Rooney as his team looks forward to the second half of the season with some new players strengthening the squad.
Mike York took 4 for 19 (Library Picture)