There was sun galore this weekend at Barrow Gurney but all 3 senior teams were made to toil in the heat by tough opponents.
The first XI started promisingly with a partnership of 49 between Bernie Forge (22) and Roger Finnemore (23) but a middle order collapse soon had the scoreboard reading 61-5. Barrow welcomed back Mark Brown after a while away but sadly it was not to be a fairytale return to Barrow colours. Phil Milton then came in to strike some powerful blows in his 41 which ended up being the best individual score of the weekend for the club. Guy Fisher (15) provided some much-needed support as the 6th and 7th wicket doubled the score. Connor Jones (12) helped the score along to 153 when the final wicket fell as Rob Jones took 4/30 for visitors Bristol 3rd XI.
In reply the result was rarely in doubt as Osman (115*) survived a couple of slip chances on his way to almost single-handedly overcoming the Barrow score. James Riley had the other opener caught behind by Bernie Forge, taking the gloves this week for the Firsts, whilst former gloveman Phil Milton took a couple of consolation wickets as he turned his hand to bowling. A defeat by 7 wickets was not what the team had hoped for and leaves them in need of a win next week at Shirehampton 2nds.
Meanwhile at Page Park, Hambrook 3rds enjoyed their first win of the season against Barrow 2nds. Hambrook, fielding only 10 players, relied heavily on the crisp hitting of Kislingbury who made 55. Barrow dropped him before he had scored and once more on his way to providing a good start for his side. As Hambrook made 199-8, they could take heart from the bowling of the younger members of the team, Leo Brace taking 4/35 and Seb Allen 2/30, and the fielding of the oldest, Rod Reeves who took a spectacular tumbling catch. 34 wides though was a generous gift to add to at least 3 dropped catches and left Barrow at a severe disadvantage.
Barrow’s reply never really got going as they were bowled out for 60 with only Pete Holdaway making double figures before falling to a run out which had long been in the offing during his partnership with his old friend Rod Reeves. Some accurate bowling and some inept batting were equally to blame as Barrow never really recovered from the early loss of Ali Hood, in stark contrast to his 2 hundreds in the preceding weeks.
On Sunday Barrow drew a large crowd of supporters from visitors Portishead and indeed as far away as the USA as Barrow hoped to revive the spirits of the club. They were treated to a technically correct century from young Kieran Garrett who batted the entire innings for 105 not out. Barrow’s bowlers again toiled in the heat after being made to field on losing the toss, but an accurate spell from Steve Owen and Guy Fisher, in particular, limited Portishead to 222. Kieran Owen had the best figures of 2/34.
In reply Bernie Forge and Guy Fisher got Barrow off to a flyer as 38 were made off 5 overs. After losing Bernie, Guy continued in positive vane whilst Kieran Owen (30) was building an innings at the other end. When Guy fell for 38, Barrow began to fall behind the rate and the loss of wickets meant that Portishead increased their stranglehold on the game. Some late resistance from Matt Owen helped Barrow beyond 150 but soon after the innings ended with Barrow 67 short. As always, a vastly different team next week is likely to be playing Harptree Villages.