Barrow’s Bowlers Bring T20 Success At Flax

Barrow’s T20 season got underway at Flax Bourton Irregulars on Wednesday with an exciting comeback win.

Mark Forge opted to bat first to take advantage of the better light and the fact that 3 of the team had yet to arrive!

Losing 2 wickets in the first over was not part of the plan. Jonny Sykes began to repair the damage before the third wicket fell on 33 as weekend heroine Ellie Holdaway was caught and bowled. Connor Jones then joined Jonny and engaged in a productive partnership of some restrained strokeplay. Jonny retired on 27 and Connor, having hit the stroke of the day, an on drive up the hill for four, also retired on 25 leaving Mark Gracey and Matt Owen to push the total to 110 in 20 overs, which looked at least 30 runs light on a good pitch.

Flax lept out of the starting gate and despite an early success for Paul Gard both their second wicket pair retired having exceeded the 25 mark. With the score at 76 at ten overs and only 35 needed, Flax were cruising. The decisive bowling change though had come the over before as Barrow’s answer to Trueman and Statham (for you historians of the game) came into the attack. Matt Owen bustling in up the hill taking 3/8 in 4 overs and the extremely impressive Leo Brace who took 2/20 in his four, clean bowling one batsman with one which moved a lot and pinning another LBW. Leo found a lot of swing and occasional bounce, while Matt’s pace and accuracy in the fading light accounted for 2 batsmen clean bowled while another chipped up a catch to Gracey at mid off. Their 8 overs were supported by some excellent fielding.

With 18 balls to go Flax remarkably still needed 17 runs. Connor then returned to bowl one of the returning retired batsmen and then took the 9th wicket when keeper Bernie Forge (a late substitute for the injured Phil Milton) clung on to a thick edge, finishing with 3/15 in all.

Adam Brace then dismissed the opposition skipper (who had resumed his innings after retiring) and Barrow won by 12 runs.

Next week Barrow entertain St Bonaventures.

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