BARLEY won their last home game of the season with an exciting victory over Norfolk touring team Denver. Electing to bat, Barley looked set as they reached 60 without loss off just 13 overs. Umpire Jones then gave Allan (32) out LBW to one that looked a

BARLEY won their last home game of the season with an exciting victory over Norfolk touring team Denver.

Electing to bat, Barley looked set as they reached 60 without loss off just 13 overs.

Umpire Jones then gave Allan (32) out LBW to one that looked as though it could easily have missed another set of stumps.

Walters (30) kept going but received little help as a series of Barley batsmen got themselves out cheaply.

Busby (4) and Symes (8) were bowled and then last week's double century maker Martin Beedell (11) chopped on a ball that would have been a wide.

Walters then caught the bug and played on to Illat (4-28).

Thanks to brisk innings by Carnaby (24) Hunt (14) and Ross (10) at the end Barley made it to the 38th over before Michael Ross was bowled trying to smash a boundary.

Barley ended on 160 all out, a score that should have been gettable by Denver.

But in reply Denver found it tough going.

Chuck was miserly as usual, and took 1-6 in his six overs.

Jones ((1-16), from the top end, was erratic, and following his first ball, a slow full toss spooned to backward short leg, was swiftly replaced by the more reliable Walters (2-28).

He made the breakthrough with the wickets of Black and J.Hastings, both caught by Allan.

Bruce Carnaby again showed his style in taking McGrath's wicket but as per usual it was down to Michael Ross (4-30) to do the real damage.

At one stage he had taken 4-13 runs and the game looked over. M Hastings had other ideas, though, and set about the Barley bowling.

Symes went for 23 off four overs and Ross was planted for two six in the field.

But with Denver needing just 20 from five overs, Martin Beedell had Rolfe brilliantly caught behind by wicket keeper Andy Hunt to end the game with Denver 142 all out.

Reed's Sunday side kept up their quest for promotion to the Sunday North Herts League Division One with an ultimately comfortable victory against St Josephs - largely due to a fantastic hundred by all-rounder Richard Johnson.

St Josephs won the toss and elected to bat on a beautiful day at The Green.

They were reduced to 20-1 by a good catch from Ed Garrott off the bowling of Rupert Martin but soon began to recover their innings and maintain a healthy run-rate.

Reed's bowlers were not at their best and unusually the fielding was a little lack-lustre but nevertheless the visitors were held back below six an over on what was a lovely batting track and lightning outfield.

A target of 226 to win in 40 overs was set. Michael Robertson continuing in his new found position as opening bat got Reed off to a flier with 16 off the first over.

This set the tone nicely, but he soon fell for a quickfire 20.

Then when Matt Bowles, Ben Bowles and first teamer, Heslam fell with the score at just 50, Reed looked in some trouble.

However an excellent partnership between John Heslam (50) and the unbeaten century-man Johnson saw Reed move the score along to 205-4 with just 25 overs played.

Ed Garrott came in to partner Johnson and see him to a fine ton, his first for the club which he brought up with the necessary six with only five runs left to win.