Barkby promotion hopes dented by batting collapse

After losing the toss, Barkby were happy to bat first with a side featuring eight players with Premier League caps. But what followed was far from expected.

Captain Adam Cookson changed the opening partnership to Ben Hollis (5) and Louis Botting (1), but they struggled against the ball which was swinging and seaming around, and fell to tremendous slip catches.

H. Patel and N. Patel continued to frustrate the home batsmen with Harby (4) chipping his wicket away shortly before Carmichael (1) was clean bowled (35-4).

Consolidation was key but the wickets continued to tumble as Tebbatt (1) edged to gully, Phillips (0) was caught at mid-on and Hammond (6) was stumped to leave Barkby 47-7.

While wickets tumbled at the other end, Wilkinson (51) showed great maturity, with impeccable shot selection and patience. He finally found support from Waplington (29) who matched Wilkinson’s elegant cover drives before falling to an in-swinging yorker.

Cookson was lbw second ball, and number three Wilkinson was the last to fall attempting to increase the tempo and Barkby were all out for 113, at least 90 runs below par.

Barkby knew early wickets were key, but the visitors made a fast start. L. Botting claimed his first wicket thanks to Hollis’ slip catch.

The runs dried up from both ends and an inspired bowling change saw Waplington take the second wicket, lbw.

Harby pouched a sharp chance came two overs later as Sports wobbled at 44-3.

D. Botting kept things tight, but failed to take a wicket for the first time this season, while Carmichael’s aggression claimed a well-deserved wicket.

But the visitors steadied the ship and knocked off the runs without further loss.