On a very hot, balmy evening at Hobbs Lane, St Bonaventures made their annual visit for a T20 friendly game. Barrow had young Oscar Livesey as captain who stationed himself at slip from which he got a good view of proceedings as St Bonaventures batted first.
Mark Fisher troubled the openers with his pace and also the odd delivery which kept low from the Fox and Goose end and Grant Ashley showed real improvement in his bowling since taking up the game for the first time this year. Early success came however through a couple of run outs. A comical mx-up allowing the skipper to throw to the bowler leaving the opener well short, whilst an ambitious second run, together with a little more confusion and some good work from Adam Brace accounted for his partner.
Langhorne and his captain John Hickey then took charge and increased the scoring rate. Barrow rotated their bowlers but Langhorne was looking to hit over the top which he did to great effect adding a couple of sixes to 7 fours before retiring at 50. Hickey fell victim to an excellent catch by his opposite number, Oscar clinging on to a flashing edge at short third man off Ellie Holdaway to leave the visitors 118-4 with 4 overs to go. Carr and Johnson then did well in manoeuvring the ball around to take the total to 139-4 at the close.
Sunday’s hero Jonny Sykes was lined up to be Barrow’s pinch hitting opener, but the tactic backfired when he played all around one from the opening slow bowler and departed without scoring. Bernie Forge and James Riley then put on 121 for the second wicket. James playing a bustling innings with several good-looking shots, none more so than a lofted straight drive over the hedge at the Village End. Bernie played some characteristic fluent straight drives, and took advantage of anything on the legside as the pair matched each other almost run for run increasing the scoring rate as the overs ticked by. With 2 overs to go Barrow needed 16 to tie, 17 to win, but when Riley missed an attempted shot over the top and was bowled by Milan off the first ball of the 19th over, the momentum turned and, Guy Fisher had little chance to get into his stride, being new to the crease against the accurate Milan and Rossiter who were supported by some spirited fielding. Barrow finished 9 runs short leaving Bernie on 49 not out at the close.
The teams then enjoyed what was left of the beautiful evening slaking their thirst after a close game.