A cloudy afternoon with spots of rain in the air greeted the visiting Blue Flame team, and with the forecast not at all promising it was agreed to try and get a 30 over game underway at Hobbs Lane hoping that the famous Barrow micro-climate might mean it missed the worst of the weather.
Winning the toss, Blue Flame elected to bat and started positively against Guy Fisher and Mike Lilley, but Mike struck in his third over to remove Lewins for 19. Enter Will Kerswell, easing back into cricket after the rigours of university life, bowling in tandem with the wily Adam Brace. Will found a little turn and giving the ball some air suffered some clean hitting from Hance, before exacting his revenge having him caught on the boundary by Mark Fisher, a juggling catch from Jordan Allen also on the boundary gave him figures of 2/35. Meanwhile injury-prone Adam kept things tight and determined to save everything of his own bowling stopped a well-timed straight shot rather painfully with his foot but after a short lie-down in the bowling crease recovered to complete his spell.
Off-spinner Frank Forge then took 2/9 in his four overs deceiving the danger-man J Pinkney (who apparently made a century last week and who made runs in this fixture last year) and bowling him. Jordan Allen bowled tidily too, in two spells, the second as he demanded to bowl at his uncle in the Blue Flame team, duly accounting for him which brought a big smile to his face. Leo Brace showed great maturity bowling at the business end of the innings too and leg-spinner Denis Atkins had a twirl as well. All through the innings Mark Fisher was champing at the bit to bowl, this made him hungry for wickets he soon obliged taking 2-14.
The Blue Flame innings ended in light rain with a score of 160-8 and it looked that that would be it for the day. Some special Kathy Fisher cakes devoured, the rain stopped, so Barrow went out for their run chase with an unfamiliar opening partnership: Frank Forge and Jordan Allen. After hitting the first ball of the innings for four Frank played the anchor role, being tested by some sharp bowling from Poole, before unleashing a beautiful straight drive and square cut on his way to 22 not out. Jordan was the more dominant hitting the ball over the top until he perished trying it once too often for 36. At 69-1 in the 12th over the game was set up nicely but the players left the field after the wicket fell, never to return, as the rain had returned only heavier this time.