Everards County League: Percy smashes 10-ball 50 to set up big Barkby win

On an unpredictable wicket in damp conditions, Barkby lost early wickets when openers Ben Hollis (0) and Lloyd Phillips (1) were both caught.

Jack Wood soon followed for four, cutting a ball which held up in the pitch straight to gully as Barkby wobbled on 21-3.

Drying conditions and the introduction of spin brought some big hitting from Matt Harby and Conor Percy who rapidly reached his 50 with a succession of sixes.

His second 50 took an incredible 10 balls as he ruthlessly punished the bad bowling, but gave his wicket away just before drinks for a stunning 111 which included 11 sixes and six fours.

Harby continued where Percy left off, scoring three huge sixes in his 75 and the Barkby lower order added quick runs before they were bowled out for 229 within 39 overs.

In the hunt for wickets, paceman Joe Dyer and the probing Amit Barchha were both frustrated as they continuously beat the bat without reward.

The Croft openers turned the tables, sending the Barkby attack to all corners, until the first wicket was picked up by Bourke for 82, caught by Wood.

Skipper Adam Cookson then had the other opener (18) caught which sparked a series of wickets for both bowlers as they turned the screw on a vulnerable batting line-up.

Bourke took two wickets in two balls on his way to well-deserved figures of 5 for 64, while Cookson took 4 for 54.

A defiant 10th-wicket stand was eventually broken when the returning Dyer (1 for 3) found the edge of the Croft skipper’s bat on his second team debut, and the hosts were all out for 176 in the 39th over.

The 30-point haul lifted Barkby to fifth in Division Five East ahead of their trip to struggling Kibworth Fourth XI on Saturday (1pm).