Barrow Gurney’s season, like that of so many other clubs, has stalled due to the unseasonal weather, with all games rained off for the last two weekends without a ball being bowled.
However the club’s friendly T20 season was able to get off to an exciting start last week during a brief dry spell. Barrow entertained the St Bonaventure’s team at Hobbs Lane. Barrow won the toss and batted first, and Jordan Allen (26) and Mark Gracey (18) raced to a fifty partnership. Ben Skuse (32) with the support of Isaac Todman (15) then built upon the good start, but Barrow failed to take full advantage and a total of 129-4 looked below par on the small ground.
Isaac Todman then struck with the ball (2/15) aided by a brilliant catch taken over his shoulder running towards the boundary by Ben Skuse.
Phil Robinson (43 with 4 sixes) and Ted Billing (38) then combined to take the visitors to the brink of victory, only for them both to depart with 3 overs to go. David Smith bowled two excellent “death” overs for only 8 and took a wicket due to another brilliant diving catch by Ben Skuse. In a tense finish St Bonaventures remained 2 runs short at the close. The late evening sunshine being a reminder of what spring should be like.
Barrow start their Bateman Cup campaign at Abbots Leigh on Wednesday evening, and then hope to get their League season back on track with better weather forecast.