Barrow Gurney 1st XI chalked up another win against Bristol Lions, whilst in high-scoring contests at Hobbs Lane, the 2nds narrowly lost to Bedminster 5ths , and a weakened Sunday team struggled against the formidable opening partnership of Kilmersdon.
Barrow Gurney tamed the Bristol Lions on Saturday, bowling a team, depleted in number, out for 121 on an unpredictable pitch at Dunkerton. Matt Owen followed up last week’s good from with 4/36, whilst the skipper Frank Forge weighed in with 2/24.
With batting extremely difficult, Barrow promoted the hard-hitting Kian Ware to open the batting, and he set about making the target in double quick time, smashing 81 not out off 41 balls with 5 sixes, to take Barrow to a welcome win by 7 wickets after a difficult few weeks.
Meanwhile at Hobbs Lane, Barrow’s 3 H’s built a competitive score, as regular opener Ali Hood made another powerful innings of 64, but he was bettered by his brother Stu, who on a rare outing these days, played a magnificent knock of 66. The innings was anchored by Barrow chairman Pete Holdaway who batted 35 overs for a stylish 61, but the innings stalled and 237-5 was only a par score on the quick-scoring ground.
Visitors, Bedminster 5ths, weathered an excellent early spell of 2/27 from Barrow captain Mike Lilley, but Dave Peacock (81) kept the run chase going at the required rate. Pegged back by three brilliant run outs, by Pete Rooney, Craig Jones and Simon Hudson, the game went down to the wire but a dropped catch and a couple of poor overs helped Bedminster over the line by 2 wickets in the penultimate over.
On Sunday a weakened Barrow team did well to make 211-5, with Paul Gard making a vital 64, Frank Forge made 40 and Rod Reeves 31 not out; but the lack of bowling strength against the classy Kilmersdon skipper Mark Batchelor (104 not out), who made his second consecutive Sunday League century, and Alex Gardner (83 not out) allowed the opposition to make light of the target with several overs to spare.