County League: Barkby United knocked off top spot by Lutterworth loss

Barkby United slipped off the Premier Division summit with a disappointing home defeat to Lutterworth on Saturday.
Barkby United First XI, from left, back - Hugh Asher, Matt Boyce, Rob Townsend, Will Fazackerly, Ian Kirk, David Tew, Cameron Sharp; front - Ben Silver, Jamie Drake, Steve Flowers, Tom Flowers, Aiden Morris. EMN-170613-091726002Barkby United First XI, from left, back - Hugh Asher, Matt Boyce, Rob Townsend, Will Fazackerly, Ian Kirk, David Tew, Cameron Sharp; front - Ben Silver, Jamie Drake, Steve Flowers, Tom Flowers, Aiden Morris. EMN-170613-091726002
Barkby United First XI, from left, back - Hugh Asher, Matt Boyce, Rob Townsend, Will Fazackerly, Ian Kirk, David Tew, Cameron Sharp; front - Ben Silver, Jamie Drake, Steve Flowers, Tom Flowers, Aiden Morris. EMN-170613-091726002

They remain in second place, just six points behind new leaders Sileby, but face one of the toughest trips of the season to third-placed Kibworth on Saturday when all-rounder Ian Kirk will play his final match for the club.

Having won the toss, Barkby captain Steve Flowers opted to field first, but the Lutterworth openers Pickering and Hill put on 68 before spinner

Sharp had Hill trapped lbw for 31.

Just 12 runs later, Sharp had Smith caught by Smithard for four, and Hack was then run out for one, leaving the visitors on 83-3.

Bourke came into the attack and had Sim stumped by Silver for 25, and when Sharp took his third wicket, Wilson leg before for seven, and Bourke bowled opener Pickering for a patient 52, the visitors looked in trouble at 138-6.

Some big hitting from Carl Smith (44 not out) and Blockley (28) took Lutterworth to 206 when the returning Morris had Blockley caught by Sharp.

But with the batsmen having crossed, the hard-hitting Smith struck 11 off the final four balls as the innings closed on 217-7.

Barkby’s innings started badly when the in-form Kirk (10) was caught behind with the score on 18.

Stapleford-Jones (14) was also caught behind, nine runs later, but Fazackerly and Tew put on 54 for the third wicket.

Bowling a tight spell, Smith had Fazackerly caught for 27 shortly before Flowers was caught off Welham for two.

Barkby had even more cause for concern when Welham removed Botting lbw for four, and Ben Silver (0) was run out with the score at 98-6.

David Tew and Aiden Morris gave Barkby some hope of victory with a stand of 61, Tew playing some fine shots.

Hill returned to the attack and had Tew caught for 72, and eight runs later Morris was bowled for 25.

Sharp (1) was then clean bowled by Hill who repeated the trick for Smithard (9) as Barkby were bowled out for 179.

Lutterworth: 217-7.

Bowling: I. Kirk 10-3-25-0; L. Botting 9-1-24-0; A. Morris 6-1-32-1; C. Sharp 10-1-43-3; E. Bourke 10-1-42-2; A. Smithard 5-0-36-0.

Barkby: I. Kirk 10, A. Stapleford-Jones 14, W. Fazackerly 27, D. Tew 72, S. Flowers 2, L. Botting 4, B. Silver 0, A. Morris 25, E. Bourke 6*, C. Sharp 1, A. Smithard 9, Extras 9. Total: 179.