Barley have the upper hand

BARLEY kept derby rivals Cokenach firmly in the Cambs Junior League Division 1B relegation zone, following their 14-run win on Saturday.

The hosts started well with opening batsmen Jamie Walters (35) and Andrew Hunt (31) setting Barley up nicely.

Both were dismissed though, following catches by John Gill and Rob Stone, and were followed by Chris Allan and Christopher Markham, with two more catches coming courtesy of John Ford and Matt Stevens.

Ali Wallace (14) and Stuart Gurnell (15) steadied the Barley ship, before the in-form Brian Symes hit a fine 52 not out as they reached 168 for 7 from their 40 overs.

The Cokenach response started badly when they lost Adam Wardell (0) to Nick Butler's challenging delivery.

Fellow opener Peter Clarke (19) did gather some much-needed momentum however, with Rychard Scrase-Field doing his bit with a well-worked 44.

Clarke was dismissed by the impressive Gurnell for the first of his six wickets, with Stevens following soon after with a duck as Gurnell combined with Andrew Hunt for another well-taken catch.

James Keel (38) did well to push the visitors' total on further, although the quick dismissals of Rob Stone and Nick Eve thwarted any real hope of a revival.

Liam Botten (11) and Nigel Sirett (29 not out) offered brief hope, but Cokenach were all out for 154 in the 40th over.

n Elsewhere in the Cambs Junior Leagues, Bassingbourn saw off the threat of Little Shelford with a commanding 128-run victory in Division 2C.

There was the same winning margin for Barrington in Division 1, with the hosts extending their winning run with a victory over Doddington.

Ashwell and Steeple Morden saw their games with Thurlow and Mill Green respectively called off through heavy rain, as was the match between Bassingbourn seconds and Barrington seconds in Division 5C.