Last season Barrow Gurney 2nds lost both their games against Frampton Cotterell, but this year have returned the favour this season with a good win on Saturday ensuring the completion of the double.
Frampton always play the game in the right spirit. Barrow received a club tweet from one of their players on Sunday commenting on the ‘very talented youth’. A sentiment evident from this year’s match reports, although it is fair to say they are ably supported by some slightly less youthful!
Mark Gracey won his 4th consecutive toss and once again decided to make the most of the new ball and put Frampton Connterell in to bat. Barrow opened the bowling with Frank Forge and Matt Owen. Frank bowling with his usual good economy was unlucky not to pick up a wicket. Matt bowling with good pace picked up a couple of wickets (clean bowled) leaving the score 19/2 off 8. The first of his wickets broke the bail!!! No more wickets fell for a further 14 overs during which Paul Carter was busy keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Its not usual for Mike Lilley to go wicketless and this game was no exception with Liam Moore taking a fine high catch with Frampton then 74/3 off 21. At this point Barrow may have thought that on a slow pitch, they might be chasing 160 plus but Guy Fisher (1 wicket) and Mark Fisher (2 wickets) had other ideas picking up their 3 wickets for only 14 runs off a combined 10 overs, both supported by Liam who after a shaky opening began to find his rhythm after a few overs.
After 40 overs, Barrow were given a target of 138.
After tea Jackson Bryant and Mark Gracey opened the chase and after Jackson was caught behind Mark started scoring on the leg side in particular putting on a 25 run partnership with Roger Finnemore before Mark fell caught behind for 21. Oscar Livesey came in and was bowled, as he put it, ‘pitched outside leg and bowled off stump’. Jordan Allen joined Roger put on a good partnership with Jordan being dismissed for 40 and Roger caught for 23. Guy was then caught for 1 and Frank and Liam saw Barrow home with 4 and 13 not out respectively.
The result sees Barrow only 8 points behind 2nd in the league.