Rain intervened to spoil Barrow Gurney’s 1st XI game this Saturday, preventing the team chasing down a small total away at Chilcompton. Meanwhile although the weather was brighter at Hobbs Lane, the 2ndXI suffered a sizeable defeat, leaving it to the Sunday XI to chalk up the club’s first league victory of the season with a strong showing against Keynsham.
After the long journey to Chilcompton, Barrow, after a couple of early slip ups, took advantage of the low bounce by bowling straight. Ed Holiday (3/11) and then Kian Ware (4/10) were particularly effective as the hosts were bowled out for only 99. With one rain shower having already delayed the game, Barrow set about their target and suffered a couple of early reverses, but with the score on 29-2 the rain returned to cause the match to be abandoned leaving Barrow with 11 points.
Mark Gracey’s fluent 84 was the highlight for Barrow at home to Coalpit Heath 3rds. The visitors had amassed 262-1 in their innings thanks to Chris Williams’ 146 not out, as only Nick Heal enjoyed the wicket-taking feeling. In reply Mark Forge and Mark Gracey took the score to 76-1, with Gracey then forming a useful partnership with Mike York (29 not out), before Gracey fell when a century seemed to be in his grasp. Despite his fine innings Barrow were well behind the rate and ended up 101 runs short.
Barrow’s Sunday team bowled first against Keynsham and did a good job of containing some promising young batsmen to 221-5. Guy Fisher’s leg spin (2/45) enjoyed the most success and he was well backed up by the catching and fielding. Barrow’s reply got off to a good start with Bernie Forge (34) and Jordan Allen (60) putting on 123 for the first wicket, with Allen looking particularly impressive in his first innings of the season. After they both fell in quick succession, a quickfire 40 from Kian Ware put Barrow in the driving seat but Keynsham fought back with couple of wickets, including the running out of Mark Fisher (21) whilst backing up after due warning had been given. James Riley (29 not out) then took Barrow to their target with skipper Colin Fletcher hitting the winning runs.