Barrow Gurney First XI came out on top in a rain-reduced game away at Chilcompton this weekend.
Losing the toss and with a delayed start, Barrow were put into bat and got off to the worst possible start with Connor Jones playing all round a straight one to be bowled second ball. At 1-1 after 2.5 overs, rain then set in for over an hour.
When the rain cleared the match now became a 20 over affair, and at 1-1 from 2.5 Barrow had their work cut out to get to a competitive total on a pitch that had taken some moisture over the previous couple of hours despite being covered. Guy Fisher and Ellie Holdaway started watchfully, but after a few overs Barrow started to throw caution to the wind. Ellie swinging across the line to find herself bowled by a good delivery, and Guy running himself out in his urgency to get on with things. Jason Cryans and Phil Milton (22) then put on 51 for the 4th wicket and had done well to put some impetus into the innings. Jonny Sykes added some quick runs, as did Ed Holdaway, and Ben Hodges too was run out looking for a quick single. Mark Fisher then hit 14 off 6 balls, which accompanied by Jason’s brilliant knock of 55 n/o (off 44 balls) ensured that Barrow got to a more than competitive 131 with 17 coming off the final over.
Jason Cryans top scored with 55 off 44 deliveries.
Nick Heal and Ed Holdaway opened the bowling and did so effectively, with Nick (1/28) picking up one of the openers. However, the second wicket proved elusive and at 62-1 from 10, the odds were firmly in Chilcompton’s favour. Phil Milton and Guy Fisher were brought into the attack and frustrated the batsmen who struggled to get the ball away. This not only dried up the boundaries, but even singles were now seemingly hard to come by. Needing 30 from 3 overs, back came Ed Holdway and Mark Fisher. Fisher quickly picked up the left-handed Hancock bowled, followed shortly by the incoming number 4 who could only chip the ball up to brother Guy at cover. Ed (3 for 10), who took a hattrick on his last outing, continued where he left off picking up 3 wickets in 4 balls, with a close LBW shout turned down for another hattrick. Mark Fisher, defending 20 from the final over, bowled it perfectly, even throwing in some newly-fashioned slower balls for good measure. He finished with 2 for 22.
Ed Holdaway was on fire again taking 3 wickets in 4 balls
Barrow are now only 11 points behind 3rd in Division 4 with 3 games to go.