CCA Junior League 1B

Barley 151

Longstowe 130

Barley won by 21 runs

A MAJAESTIC 71 from Chris Markham paved the way for a thrilling win for Barley on Saturday following three cancelled fixtures due to the weather.

Barley openers Jamie Walters and Sami Ullah had no luck against Fox and Dunham and in the third over Ullah, having just played a deft cut shot for four, was clean bowled by Dunham. Fox was finding his length straight away and dismissed Walters for a duck and Rick Wilson for just two.

Symes and Markham then came together and attempted to rebuild the innings as Barley had slumped to 9-3 in just the fifth over. Markham went about his task serenely, glancing singles and pushing the ball through gaps in the field. When the drinks break came in the 20th over the partnership had moved the score on to 47.

There’s often a wicket after drinks so Symes (22) duly obliged and drove a straight one back to Knibbs. Ali Wallace then came in, and in his usual fashion thrashed 22 off seven balls and was then out caught on the boundary from a top edge.

Chris Allan then calmed things down and farmed the strike to Markham as he maintained his good play. Eventually instinct took over and in attempting a square cut off Slator, Allan was brilliantly caught behind by the Longstowe keeper for six.

Wakeel Shah went for a golden duck before Jason Busby came in and played steadily before being caught behind for seven. As Markham continued to plunder the bowling, Leigh Stewart became Knibbs’ third victim, bowled for six.

Jimmy Ghani ended up one not out as in the 39th Markham proceeded to strike two mighty sixes and in charging down the wicket to go after a third was stumped for 71 off Slator. Barley ended up with just 151 all out, a total that Longstowe were optimistic about chasing down.

In reply, Longstowe’s Key and Lenton found it hard going against Shah (7-1-15-5) and Ghani (6-0-23-0) and in the fifth over Shah bowled Lenton for six with a beauty. Fox, who had scored 50 against Barley earlier in the season, could only make six this time before being caught by Markham off Shah.

Iles then went for seven, bowled by Sami Ullah (10-2-25-2), and Longstowe looked in some trouble. Key, now partnered by Wareham steadied things for a while until Stewart (8-1-23-1) lured him into a drive. He missed the ball and before he could regain his ground Allan had removed the bails. Wallace (3-0-16-0) was expensive so quickly gave way to a second spell from Shah. He took three more wickets and was well backed up with two wickets from Symes (4-0-1-2), including Slator who scored 30. Once he had gone, Longstowe were soon all out ending up on 130 – 22 short of their target. Barley’s victory keeps the pressure on league leaders Newport.