Burrough League: Champions Barkby United cap season with emphatic win

A 99-run win in the final match of the season crowned a dominant season for Barkby’s midweek team. They won nine of 11 matches, with three further fixtures abandoned to the weather to finish well clear of their nearest rivals.

With stand-in skipper Jamie Drake having won the toss and chosen to bat, Conor Percy got Barkby off to a quick start with two boundaries before a calamitous run-out saw Jack Johnson dismissed for just two.

Drake could only add one as his slog sweep sailed straight up into the air and was caught.

Keeper Dan Lever used his cut shot well to reach 13 until hitting one straight to the fielder at point. Jack Wood hit a 10-ball 20 to reaffirm Barkby’s impetus before being well caught and bowled.

Percy struggled, but scored 21 as he was also caught to leave Barkby five down.

Adam Cookson smashed 31 not out late in the innings to take Barkby past the 100 mark, well supported by Eamonn Bourke (9), Martin Hocking (6) and Jack Wilkinson (11 not out) as Barkby posted 133-7 from their 16 overs.

Steve Flowers’ first over saw the run out of Thorpe Arnold’s overseas player without facing a ball, thanks to Louis Botting’s throw.

Botting then took a wicket in his first over, clean bowled, before Flowers (2-0-2-1) removed the other opener in his second and final over to finish with impressive figures.

Botting claimed a further two wickets in his last over, with catches from Drake and Lever, to end a destructive spell of 2-0-6-3.

A second run-out, this time from Cookson, put the game beyond any doubt with Jack Wilkinson (1-0-4-1) and captain Drake (1-0-1-1) taking a wicket apiece, with Wilkinson removing the only visitor to reach double figures.

Eamonn Bourke (2-1-3-1) capped an emphatic Barkby display, courtesy of a smart one-handed diving catch from Steve Flowers to dismiss Thorpe for just 34.