10th June
Chew Valley CC 89 all out (18.1 overs)
Barrow Gurney CC 93-7 (17 overs)
Barrow Gurney won by 3 wickets
Barrow Gurney booked their place in the next round of the Tony Hitch Knockout Cup after overcoming a spirited Chew Valley performance in a low-scoring but entertaining T20 encounter at Chew Court.
Having won the toss, Barrow Gurney elected to field first and immediately put the hosts under pressure. Mark Fisher made the breakthrough with the wicket of David Lawrence before adding Sam Scragg shortly afterwards to leave Chew Valley struggling at 25-2.
Despite Fraser Thomas striking an early six, wickets continued to tumble as Barrow Gurney maintained control throughout the innings.
Alex Fordham offered the main resistance with a determined 21 from 35 deliveries, sharing useful partnerships with Dylan Speight (15) and Jes Henry Oliphant (8). However, regular breakthroughs prevented Chew Valley from building any real momentum.
The Barrow bowling attack shared the wickets impressively. Kieran Owen was the standout performer with figures of 3-14 from his four overs, while Ed Holdaway and Frank Forge both claimed two wickets apiece. Fisher’s disciplined opening spell of 2-10 from four overs, including two maidens, laid the platform as Chew Valley were dismissed for 89 with 11 balls remaining.
In reply, Barrow Gurney made a solid start through captain Mark Brown and Matt Edgar, who added 20 for the opening wicket before Brown was bowled by David Lawrence for 10. Edgar continued positively, striking three boundaries in his 23, while Ed Holdaway contributed a fluent 16 as the visitors moved towards their target.
Chew Valley fought back admirably through Dylan Speight, whose double strike reduced Barrow from 60-1 to 60-3, before Andrew Banks trapped Jonny Sykes lbw in the very next over. When Edgar was run out for 23, Barrow had slipped to 62-5 and the game was finely balanced.
Matthew Manfield remained calm under pressure, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 19. Although Billy Barter picked up two late wickets to briefly raise home hopes, Manfield guided Barrow Gurney home alongside Mark Fisher, sealing victory with three overs to spare.
13th June
ONES
Brislington CC 2nd XI produced a controlled and clinical performance to defeat Barrow Gurney CC 1st XI by five wickets with five overs to spare.
Brislington won the toss and elected to field on a sunny afternoon with a damp pitch from the night before. Barrow Gurney struggled for early momentum. Opener Jordan Allen fell for a duck in the second over, caught behind off Paul Southall. Captain Mark Brown followed soon after, caught and bowled by Craig Wintersgill for 10, leaving the hosts in early trouble at 14-2.
Mark Fisher offered the main resistance, compiling a patient 46 from 62 balls that included nine boundaries. He shared useful partnerships, particularly with Josh Yelland (16) and Fergus Skinner (16), but the innings never fully accelerated. Fisher was eventually bowled by Jacob Wardle, and further wickets tumbled steadily. Louis Dunn and Wardle both claimed two wickets apiece in economical spells, while Southall and Joshua Noel also took two each. Barrow Gurney closed on 136-9 from their 40 overs, with Chris Milton unbeaten on 12.
In reply, Brislington made a solid start despite losing Simon Cox early, bowled by Mark Fisher for 12. Jonathan Tassell (21) and Ian Thomas (22) rebuilt the innings before both fell to leave the score at 68-3. Jacob Wardle then took control, anchoring the chase with an assured unbeaten 46 from 61 deliveries (seven fours and a six). He received support from Joshua Barlass (10) and a late cameo from Paul Southall (7 not out) as Brislington reached their target of 137 in the 35th over for the loss of five wickets.
Fisher was the pick of the Barrow Gurney bowlers with 2-23 from eight overs, while Frank Forge, Paul Gard and Phil Milton claimed a wicket each.
TWOS
Long Ashton 2nd XI produced a superb all-round display to record a comprehensive 209-run victory over Barrow Gurney 2nd XI at Yanley Lane in the Bristol & District Cricket Association Eighth Division West.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Long Ashton made full use of an excellent batting surface, piling on an imposing 338-4 from their 40 overs.
The innings was built around a magnificent unbeaten 140 from Neil Wilson, who anchored the innings throughout with a classy knock featuring 17 boundaries. Wilson found an equally destructive partner in Luis Parnham, whose fluent 95 included 15 fours and a six as the pair put Barrow Gurney’s bowlers under relentless pressure.
Earlier, Mark Fearon provided an aggressive start with 30 from the top of the order before Oscar Livesey added 14 and Robert Hodgetts chipped in with 10. Ryan Naismith then finished the innings strongly with an unbeaten 14, while 35 extras further boosted Long Ashton’s commanding total.
Despite picking up a wicket apiece, Olivia Edgar, Michael York and Nadarajah Sivakumar struggled to contain the flow of runs as every Barrow Gurney bowler came under sustained attack.
Faced with a daunting chase of 339, Barrow Gurney never managed to build any meaningful partnerships against an outstanding Long Ashton bowling attack.
Captain Sean Walters led from the front with a devastating spell of 4-16 from eight overs, including three maidens. Walters ripped through the middle order, removing Ben Skuse before dismissing Jim Twine, Linden Alway and Matt Edgar in quick succession to leave the visitors reeling.
Robert Luke Flannigan was equally impressive, claiming 2-14 from eight overs with four maidens, while Callum Powell (1-23) and Oliver Haynes (1-34) both struck early to ensure the chase never gathered momentum. Mark Fearon also claimed a wicket as Long Ashton shared the breakthroughs across the attack.
Only Ben Skuse (24), Adam Curtis (19), Peter Rooney (25 not out) and Michael York (12 not out) reached double figures as Barrow Gurney closed on 129-9 from their 40 overs.
The emphatic victory earned Long Ashton 19 league points and showcased an excellent all-round team performance. Wilson’s unbeaten century provided the platform before the bowlers delivered a disciplined and clinical display to complete one of the side’s most convincing wins of the season.
20th June
ONES
Backwell Flax Bourton CC 1st XI secured a comfortable 5 wicket victory over Barrow Gurney CC 1st XI in their Bristol & District Cricket Association Fourth Division clash at FlaxMead on Saturday 20 June 2026.
Barrow Gurney, inserted after losing the toss, were restricted to 136 all out in exactly 34 overs. Matthew Manfield top-scored with a solid 30 (3 fours, 1 six off 49 balls) before becoming one of Samuel Williams’ victims. Ed Holdaway (26) and Josh Yelland (23) added useful contributions, while Mark Fisher remained unbeaten on 27 at the end. Sam Flowers was the standout bowler for the hosts, claiming 5-35 from his seven overs, including the key wickets of Holdaway, Yelland, Skinner, Mahi and Gard. Alex Williams supported well with 2-17 from eight tidy overs, and there were two run-outs to complete the innings.
In reply, Backwell Flax Bourton reached their target of 137 for the loss of five wickets, also in 34 overs. Captain Sam Flowers led from the front with an aggressive 44 (6 fours, 1 six off 42 balls), putting on a substantial second-wicket stand with Samuel Williams (15). Although Flowers fell at 76, Harsha Vardhana (20) and Christopher Wright (17) kept the chase on track. Will Manning then steered the side home with an unbeaten 24, supported by Chris Toole’s four not out.
Chris Milton (2-18) and Ed Holdaway (2-28) were the most successful bowlers for Barrow Gurney, but they could not prevent Backwell from collecting maximum batting points and a comprehensive win.
27th June
ONES
Chew Valley posted a commanding 287-8 and then held their nerve in a high-scoring thriller to edge past Barrow Gurney by 10 runs.
Barrow Gurney won the toss and put Chew Valley in on a ground that proved to favour the bat. After a steady start, the visitors lost three early wickets to Ed Holdaway, who finished with 3-44. Mike Denning (23) and David Lawrence (13) both fell to the same bowler, and Alex Butler departed for a golden duck, leaving Chew Valley 47-3.
What followed was a magnificent fourth-wicket partnership of 159 between Alex Watson and Jamie Dawson. Watson made a composed 57 (8 fours, 1 six) before being caught off Paul Gard. Dawson, however, was in destructive form, racing to a brilliant century. He finished with 106 from just 76 balls, including eight fours and nine sixes, before falling to Phil Milton. Useful lower-order contributions from Sam Scragg (15), Dylan Speight (22) and captain Fraser Thomas (14 not out) pushed the total to 287-8 from their 40 overs. Phil Milton was the pick of the Barrow Gurney attack with a late haul of 4-15.
Chasing 288, Barrow Gurney made a positive start. Openers Jordan Allen and Matthew Manfield put on 81 before Manfield was bowled by David Lawrence for 36. Allen continued to 46 before being stumped off Andrew Banks. Jason Cryans then played a solid hand of 45, sharing useful stands with Ed Holdaway (17) and Josh Yelland (20).
At 209-5 the home side still needed 79 from the final 7 overs. Linden Alway produced a rapid 42 not out (two fours, four sixes) that kept the chase alive, but regular wickets from Banks (3-46), Thomas (2-57) and Watson (2-34) proved decisive. Will Thompson was the ninth man out with the score on 264, and Barrow Gurney closed on 277-9 – ten runs short of a famous win.
Dawson’s explosive century and the early bowling of Holdaway were the standout individual performances, but it was Chew Valley’s collective effort with bat and ball that secured the points in an entertaining encounter.
Twos
Backwell Flax Bourton 2nd XI produced a dominant all-round performance to thrash Barrow Gurney 2nd XI by 145 runs in their Bristol & District Cricket Association Eighth Division West clash at FlaxMead on Saturday 27 June 2026.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Backwell posted an imposing 273 all out in 39.4 overs. Openers Ewen Macgregor (19) and Ollie Eglon laid a solid platform, with the pair putting on 108 for the first wicket. Eglon was the star of the innings, compiling a fluent 74 from 65 balls (13 fours) before being caught and bowled by Matt Edgar. Captain Alex Williams then took centre stage, striking a powerful 72 from 61 deliveries that included six fours and four sixes.
Useful lower-order contributions from Jack Humphry (29 not out) helped push the total past 270, despite a late collapse.
Adam Curtis was the pick of the Barrow Gurney attack, claiming 5-47 from six overs, while Matt Edgar (2-38) and Mahinthan Velliampalam (2-20) also chipped in with two wickets apiece.
In reply, Barrow Gurney never recovered from a disastrous start and were dismissed for just 128 in 27.5 overs. Timo Wilson struck early, removing Mark Gracey and James Brown, while Euan Sills accounted for Ellie Holdaway. Matt Edgar (38) and Mahinthan Velliampalam (37) offered brief resistance, adding 54 for the fourth wicket, but once Graham Hill entered the attack the home side’s innings unravelled. Hill returned outstanding figures of 4-18 from eight overs, including two maidens, as Barrow Gurney lost their last seven wickets for only 36 runs. Alex Williams supported well with 2-30, and Casper Cooper polished off the tail.
2nd July:
Barrow Gurney’s hopes of progressing in the Tony Hitch Knockout Cup came to an end on Thursday evening as Bristol Sri Lankans chased down 156 with four balls to spare at Hobbs Lane.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Barrow made a bright start thanks to an explosive opening from Matthew Manfield. His 22 from just 13 balls, including three boundaries and a six, helped Barrow race to 50 inside six overs. However, regular wickets prevented the innings from gathering sustained momentum.
Mark Brown anchored the middle order with a composed 25, while Jordan Allen added a useful 12 before the innings threatened to stall at 94-8 with only a couple of overs remaining.
The game changed dramatically thanks to an outstanding ninth-wicket partnership between Linden Alway and Frank Forge. Alway played one of the innings of the match, smashing an unbeaten 46 from just 22 deliveries, including four fours and three towering sixes. Forge provided the perfect support, remaining unbeaten on 15 from 24 balls as the pair added an invaluable 61 runs for the ninth wicket. Their late acceleration lifted Barrow to a highly competitive 155-8 from their 20 overs.
With the ball, Barrow made the ideal start as Mark Fisher removed Shehan Somaratna with just the second delivery of the innings before also dismissing Hansika Kavinda to leave the visitors 40-2.
Unfortunately, Lahiru Perera produced a match-winning knock. The Bristol Sri Lankans wicketkeeper struck an excellent 74 from 53 balls, finding the boundary nine times and clearing it twice to keep the required rate firmly under control.
Ed Holdaway bowled impressively, claiming two important wickets, including the prized scalp of Perera, while Frank Forge chipped in with the wicket of Benura Umanga and Mark Brown also picked up a wicket as Barrow continued to battle.
Despite reducing the visitors to 127-6, an unbeaten stand from Disas Panditharatne and Inoshan Weerawardana guided Bristol Sri Lankans home with four balls remaining, sealing victory on 159-6.
Although the result ended Barrow’s cup run, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. Linden Alway’s superb late assault rescued the innings brilliantly, while the bowlers fought hard throughout against a strong batting line-up in an entertaining T20 contest.
4th July
ONES
Chilcompton chase down 199 to beat Barrow Gurney
Chilcompton Sports CC 1st XI secured a comfortable six wicket victory over Barrow Gurney CC 1st XI in the Bristol & District Cricket Association Fourth Division on Saturday 4 July 2026 at Hobbs Lane.
Chilcompton won the toss and elected to field. Barrow Gurney posted 198 all out in 37.4 overs. Opener Jordan Allen held the innings together with an unbeaten 93 from 106 balls (13 fours), but received limited sustained support. Ed Holdaway contributed a useful 28 before being run out, while Will Thompson (15) and captain Frank Forge (16) made brief contributions lower down.
The innings was disrupted by regular breakthroughs. Bradley Hancock claimed 3-30 and James Purchase 3-49. Jack Ford, Daniel Rogers and Adam Deverill each took a wicket as Barrow Gurney lost their last seven wickets for 97 runs after reaching 101-2.
In reply, Chilcompton made a strong start through an opening stand of 144 between Glen Stansfield and Tom Hancock. Stansfield dominated with 89 from 85 balls (14 fours, two sixes) before being stumped off Forge, while Hancock made a solid 41.
Ben Futcher then guided the chase with an unbeaten 31, steering Chilcompton to 199-4 in 38.5 overs. Frank Forge was the pick of the Barrow Gurney attack with 2-45, supported by single wickets for Kieran Owen and Matthew Manfield.
TWOS
Claverham (Yatton) CC 2nd XI posted a commanding total and then bowled Barrow Gurney CC 2nd XI out to secure a convincing 143-run victory in their Bristol & District Cricket Association Eighth Division West fixture at the Wood Memorial Ground on Saturday 4 July 2026.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Claverham made full use of the conditions to compile 294-5 from their 40 overs. Opener Richard Carpenter anchored the innings with a patient 89 (9 fours, 1 six off 96 balls), sharing a solid opening stand of 50 with Jonathan Alston (30). The platform was then accelerated by captain Chris Willey, who struck a brisk 65 (7 fours, 2 sixes) before being bowled by Linden Alway. Alex Cook continued the momentum with a rapid 41, while Andrew Fox and Shakson Aruja remained unbeaten at the close to push the total close to 300. Barrow’s bowlers shared the wickets around, with Adam Curtis the most successful, claiming 2-61.
In reply, Barrow Gurney struggled to build partnerships against a disciplined Claverham attack. Steven Raymond made early inroads, removing both openers, while Lucy Ashman claimed two wickets of her own. Niveshan Satgunanantham offered the main resistance with a well-made 50 (6 fours, 2 sixes), but once he departed the innings quickly unravelled. Fin Hayes (2-8) and Alex Nicholson applied the finishing touches as Barrow were dismissed for 151 in 37.1 overs.
11th July
ONES
Barrow Gurney travelled to Bitton looking to continue their strong league form but were ultimately outplayed as the home side claimed a 72-run victory after posting an imposing 250-4 from their 40 overs.
After winning the toss, Barrow Gurney elected to field and made an encouraging start with the ball. Frank Forge produced an excellent spell of controlled spin bowling, returning figures of 0-22 from his eight overs, while Paul Gard also kept the scoring in check, claiming the breakthrough wicket of Lee Swindlehurst for 27.
However, Bitton’s innings was built around a superb century from Sheraz Raja Muhammad, who dominated the attack with an outstanding 101, striking 15 fours and four sixes. He shared important partnerships throughout the innings, with Josh Wilshire adding 38 and Muhammad Ramzan finishing unbeaten on 38 to guide the hosts to a challenging total of 250-4.
Kieran Owen was the pick of the Barrow bowlers with 2-57 bowling rare spin, while Phil Milton and Paul Gard each chipped in with a wicket with several LBW’s turned down.
Chasing 251, Barrow Gurney’s reply never quite gathered the momentum required. Jordan Allen fell early before Matthew Manfield (27) and skipper Mark Brown attempted to rebuild. Brown led from the front with a determined 51, but regular wickets prevented Barrow from establishing any sustained partnerships.
Phil Milton contributed a useful 21, while lower-order efforts from Mark Fisher, Kieran Owen and Frank Forge briefly threatened to extend the contest. However, Bitton’s varied bowling attack proved too strong.
Sheraz Raja Muhammad capped a memorable all-round performance by taking 2-24, while Hamza Sagheer also claimed 2-15. Tim Patten wrapped up the innings with two wickets in just four deliveries as Barrow Gurney were dismissed for 178 in 37.4 overs.
Despite the defeat, there were positives to take from disciplined spells by Frank Forge and Paul Gard with the ball, while captain Mark Brown’s half-century provided resistance in the chase. Ultimately, Sheraz Raja Muhammad’s outstanding century and influential spell with the ball proved to be the difference as Bitton secured a deserved victory by 72 runs.
TWOS
Barrow Gurney 2nd XI suffered a heavy 137-run defeat at Hobbs Lane as Bristol New Eleven 3rd XI posted an imposing 291-8 before bowling the hosts out for 154 in 32 overs.
After losing the toss and being asked to field, Barrow Gurney made an encouraging start with wickets falling regularly. Sebastian Allen removed Sharath Siddappa before Will Thompson struck twice in quick succession to leave the visitors 58-3. Matt Edgar continued the excellent work, producing a miserly spell of 2-25 from his eight overs, while Peter Rooney, Adam Curtis and Abe Gibbs each claimed a wicket.
At 73-6, Barrow Gurney were firmly in control and eyeing a dominant bowling performance. However, Jibin Abraham turned the game on its head with a superb unbeaten 120 from just 86 deliveries. Combining power with composure, Abraham struck 17 fours and four sixes, rebuilding the innings before accelerating in the closing overs.
He found an excellent partner in Kalesh Balakrishnan, whose 53 from 44 balls added further momentum in a match-defining stand worth 146 runs for the eighth wicket. Despite the early success with the ball, Barrow Gurney were left chasing a daunting target of 292.
The reply began steadily, with Adam Curtis anchoring the innings with a well-made 38 while Will Ryan contributed 11. Captain Peter Rooney added 12 before Barrow Gurney slipped from 67-2 to 69-3, losing momentum as wickets began to tumble.
Will Thompson briefly reignited hopes with an entertaining 34 from just 20 balls, striking seven boundaries, while Sebastian Allen added a useful 21. However, the required run rate continued to climb and Bristol New Eleven’s varied bowling attack maintained control throughout.
Adarsh Balakrishnan Sudha claimed 2-22, Deepak Karikkanthra Chandran finished with 2-13, and every bowler chipped in with wickets as Barrow Gurney were eventually dismissed for 154.
While the final margin was disappointing, Barrow Gurney can take encouragement from an excellent opening bowling display, particularly Matt Edgar’s outstanding spell and the team’s ability to reduce the opposition to 73-6. Ultimately, Abraham’s exceptional century proved to be the difference, rescuing Bristol New Eleven from a precarious position and taking the game away from the hosts.
19th July
ONES
Barrow Gurney’s 1st XI produced an improved batting display on Saturday but ultimately fell to a six-wicket defeat away to St Mary Redcliffe, whose unbeaten century from Vishnu Manikkam guided the hosts to a comfortable victory with more than six overs to spare.
Having lost the toss and been asked to bat first, Barrow made a positive start through Kieran Owen (21) and Jordan Allen (18), putting on 35 for the opening wicket. After Allen and Owen departed, Jason Cryans and Ed Holdaway combined brilliantly to wrestle the momentum back in Barrow’s favour.
Cryans played one of his best innings of the season, compiling a composed 61 from 77 deliveries, while Holdaway was the aggressor, with 68 from just 60 balls, including seven fours and four towering sixes. Their 104-run partnership for the third wicket laid the platform for a commanding total.
However, the innings lost momentum after Holdaway’s and Cryans’ dismissal. Udeepa Munasinghe struck three times through the middle overs, while Shehan Chathuranga Yapa Appuhamilage also claimed three wickets to halt Barrow’s progress. Despite a late contribution from captain Mark Fisher (16), Barrow closed on 213-9 from their 40 overs – a competitive total, although perhaps 20 runs short of what had looked possible.
Barrow’s reply with the ball could hardly have started better. Mark Fisher removed James Thrower before James Plowman dismissed Harry Loud, and another wicket for Fisher left the hosts reeling at 23-3 inside the opening five overs.
With Barrow on top, Manikkam and Munasinghe counter-attacked superbly. Munasinghe struck an entertaining 61 from just 44 balls before Frank Forge broke the 104-run partnership, briefly giving Barrow renewed hope.
Batting with patience before accelerating when required Mannikam finished unbeaten on 101 from 94 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes. Kai Singh provided excellent support with an unbeaten 19 as St Mary Redcliffe eased to 214-4 in just 33.4 overs.
Mark Fisher was Barrow’s standout bowler with figures of 2-32, while James Plowman also impressed with 1-18 from four economical overs.
TWOS
Bedminster 5th XI produced a dominant all-round display to secure a comprehensive 201-run victory over Barrow Gurney 2nd XI at Hobbs Lane on Saturday, posting an imposing 328-6 before bowling the hosts out for just 127 inside 28 overs.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Bedminster made an aggressive start as Richard Bryan and Sindhu Rani put on 51 for the opening wicket. Bryan struck eight boundaries in an entertaining 38 from just 32 balls, while Sindhu contributed a fluent 22.
The innings was then built around an outstanding century partnership between Chris Thomas and Tom Ferns. Thomas led the charge with an excellent 63 from 68 deliveries, peppering the boundary ten times, while Ferns matched him with a composed 50 from 56 balls, including eight fours and a six. Their stand of 126 effectively took the game away from Barrow Gurney as Bedminster powered beyond 200 with plenty of overs remaining.
There was no let-up in the closing stages. Abigail Bryan continued the momentum with a brisk 42 from 35 balls before Harry Gunning provided the fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 58 from only 25 deliveries. His innings featured 11 fours and a six, helping Bedminster race past the 300-mark and finish on a formidable 328-6 from their 40 overs.
Facing a daunting chase, Barrow Gurney’s reply never gained any momentum. James McWilliam struck twice in the opening spell, removing Adam Curtis for a duck before dismissing captain Peter Rooney and later Will Thompson to leave the hosts reeling. Ashton Chritchlow also made an early breakthrough, while Jacob Witcombe claimed two important middle-order wickets to prevent any recovery.
Tom Curtis fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 28, but wickets continued to tumble around him. Sindhu Rani added two wickets with her off-spin before Chris Thomas capped an outstanding personal performance by claiming the final two wickets, wrapping up the innings for 127 in 27.5 overs. McWilliam finished as Bedminster’s leading bowler with excellent figures of 3-24 from five overs, while Chritchlow (1-9), Witcombe (2-26), Sindhu Rani (2-16) and Thomas (2-10) all made valuable contributions.
It was a complete team performance from Bedminster, with six batters reaching 22 or more, a powerful finish with the bat, and a disciplined bowling display that backed up the huge total.