Barley battlers go so close

THERE were jitters among the Thurlow players as Barley came up just three runs short of victory. Confident new boys, Thurlow were pushed all the way by a Barley team lacking several first team players. Having been put into bowl by Barley skipper Brian Sy

THERE were jitters among the Thurlow players as Barley came up just three runs short of victory.

Confident new boys, Thurlow were pushed all the way by a Barley team lacking several first team players.

Having been put into bowl by Barley skipper Brian Symes, Barley's Peter Chuck bowled 10 overs for 30 runs and was unlucky not to take two or three wickets.

Symes trapped Donno lbw and the lively bowling of Ali Wallace saw off the other Thurlow opener.

Seventy-two-year-old Eric Davis then rolled back the years to take four wickets for 24 runs with a fine display of slow bowling, including two sharp stumpings from keeper Andy Hunt.

Hulyer was then run out by Chris Allan and Barley seemed in the ascendancy until Basham restored the advantage back in Thurlow's favour with a swirling 55 before Allan dismissed him with an unplayable yorker.

In pursuit of 190, Barley started steadily against the fast but erratic bowling of Muller and Kingston, with Allan looking confident until he was brilliantly caught behind.

Chris Markham then watched his stumps go flying, before Symes joined opener Andy Hunt at the crease - a partnership that yielded an impressive 60.

Hunt, out for 55, was followed by big hitter Ali Wallace and then Michael Ross who smashed several glorious boundaries.

With a four needed off the last ball Symes was left stranded on 41 and Thurlow clung on to the victory.