After the disappointment of narrowly losing in the Bateman Cup final the previous week, Barrow Gurney First XI bounced back with a comprehensive win at Bristol Lions on.
On a damp pitch Barrow’s opening bowlers Mark Fisher and Phil Taylor ripped through the Lions’ batting with the help of some sharp fielding on a damp pitch at Dunkerton. Fisher finished with figures of 5/17 and the captain Ed Holdaway described it as “one of the best spells of bowling I have seen”. Phil Taylor’s 2 for 15 was equally important and the other bowlers chipped in to finish off the tail. The Lions were bowled out for 43.
In reply, Barrow’s loss of 2 early wickets gave them a bit of a fright, but Guy Fisher and Will Comley saw them home without any further alarm.
Mark Fisher was clearly the man of the match, as he was for Barrow in the Bateman Cup final against Pucklechurch on the previous Sunday. After rain had delayed the start, it was a bad toss to lose for Barrow who struggled to get the ball away on a damp outfield at Cleeve against some high quality Pucklechurch bowling. Phil Milton (38) and Mark Fisher (41 not out) were the only batsmen to get going as Barrow struggled to 111/5.
Pucklechurch were always on course, but Mark Fisher’s 5 overs for only 19 pegged them back, and when a late pair of wickets from skipper Frank Forge and Conor Jones further dried up the scoring, they crawled to victory with only 3 balls to spare.
Whilst the First’s were winning away, Barrow 2nds, weakened by promotions to the Firsts due to Covid isolations hitting the squad, put in a competitive performance against Thornbury 4ths at Hobbs Lane. Thornbury’s 242 for 6 always looked too much for the home side, despite Steve Owen’s 3/33. Barrow’s reply of 176 for 9 garnered enough bonus points to keep the team in 3rd place in their division with Seb Allen (43), Ali Hood (23), debutant Alan Webb (20), skipper Adam Brace (22) and Owen (24 not out) all contributing.
With 2 weeks to go both Barrow teams were just outside a promotion charge but well clear from relegation in their respective divisions.