Coming into the match this Saturday against Lodway, Barrow were 3rd bottom and Lodway were 2nd bottom so this was a massive game and one neither wanted to lose. As usual the opposition won the toss and they put Barrow into bat. Ali Hood and Bernie Forge opened up putting on 69 for the first wicket, Ali going for 23 just after drinks at 15 overs. Bernie went soon after for a well-crafted and sensible 42 leaving Barrow 78-2 with Phil Milton and Mark Brown at the crease. Scoring was difficult initially as Lodway bowled a tight line but Brown began to find some fluency as he got in, he was assisted by some good shots from Ben Skuse (22) and some lower order hitting from James Riley (15), Will Kerswell (10 not out) and Mark Fisher (9 not out) as Barrow scored a par score of 232 for 9. Brown being the star man scoring 56, well backed up with Bernie’s contribution to the opening stand.
Riley and Mark Fisher took the new ball and both started well. Riley bowled both openers and had the number 3 caught behind, taking 3/30 in all. Mark picked up the wicket he deserved caught by Riley after a drop by Ali earlier in his spell leaving Lodway 39-4 and Barrow well on top. Mark Fisher was in the game again as he ran out the number 5 and Premil bowled the number 6 reducing Lodway to 51-6. The number 8, Gayford (23) hit some lusty blows before Sameera bowled him meaning Lodway were now 97-7, still 135 runs from victory and 7 down. At this point Barrow took their foot off the pedal again and got a little sloppy in the field. the two Lodway batsmen, Stitfall (75 not out) and Coleske (60) played very well but Barrow didn’t look like taking a wicket as they bowled poorly, bowling both sides of the wicket and too wide and this added to the problems in the field. Barrow didn’t take another wicket until Lodway had 219 on the board by which point the game was effectively up.
A massively disappointing result given Barrow’s one-time totally dominant position.