Everards County League: Barkby rearguard action falls short

After losing the toss, Barkby were asked to field first with captain Adam Cookson and Freddy Hammond opening the bowling.

Following some very good bowling, the hosts scored at a good rate thanks to a varied and unorthodox shot selection.

The breakthrough finally came via Hammond, but the edges for four kept coming until debutant Max Carmichael and club stalwart Dave Botting took charge.

The pair bowled very tight lines and gathered five wickets between them as YMA were bowled out for 214 in 44 overs.

Barkby opener Nitesh Vadgama Ben Hollis struck a few fours at the start of the reply but was given out for the first of several marginal lbw decisions.

Wickets began to fall until Carmichael came to the crease, amassed 28 with some very clean strokes, and built a great partnership with Jack Wood (32).

Carmichael also fell leg before and things grew worse when Cookson was out first ball, leaving the hosts needing only three wickets in 22 overs, and Barkby 115 runs.

Hammond was also dismissed lbw before strike bowler Dave Botting produced a cameo with keeper/batsman Dan Lever.

But this proved short-lived when Botting was ran out, leaving Joe Keightley and Lever to survive 15 overs.

They patiently, yet positively, held guard, and bringing the total down to seven overs, the pair began to find the boundary, forcing the YMA to bowl tighter to slow the runs.

Then to Lever’s surprise, after a loud appeal, he was given out caught behind, leaving Barkby all out for 158 with six overs left.

Barkby hit the road again on Saturday for a trip to Asian Sports.

* Barkby United Third XI hosted Wakerley and Barrowden at Frisby and bowled first after skipper Mike Lilley won the toss.

Joe Dyer and Lilley bowled well to keep the visitors on a below-par score after 12 overs before they were replaced by Amit Barchha and Matt Bartram.

Bartram outwitted the Wakerley opener to give Jack Sargeant a simple catch before Barchha took control with three wickets and giving Jack Fox, Josh Grant and Jack Sargeant an easier job to see off the visitors’ tail.

Chasing a target of 169, Barkby openers Bartram and Sargeant saw off the first 24 overs and compiled a strong 100-run partnership.

Sargeant was dismissed soon after for a good 29 before Perry Stewart-Halford was given out by the umpiring Barkby skipper.

Derek Turner didn’t waste any time and hit a slog sweep six into the next field. Shortly after Bartram’s well-constructed innings came to an end for 78 by an lbw decision.

But the incoming Lilley saw his side to victory with a fine pull shot to the boundary as Barkby won with two balls to spare to cap a good all-round performance.