Safety for Barley

Barley 234-2 beat Eversden 215-8 by 19 runs Four weeks ago Barley were as good as relegated having lost seven games in a row. But by winning their last three games they knew that only a fourth consecutive victory against high flying Eversden would save t

Barley 234-2 beat Eversden 215-8 by 19 runs

Four weeks ago Barley were as good as relegated having lost seven games in a row.

But by winning their last three games they knew that only a fourth consecutive victory against high flying Eversden would save them before visiting undefeated Sawston for their final game of the season.

Barley skipper Brian Symes feared the worst as Guy Hillyard called the toss correctly and put Barley in to bat. Jamie Walters faced the first ball and appeared plumb lbw but inexplicably the Eversden players never appealed.

This was a mistake that they would come to regret as Walters took the attack to Phil Cook and Ed Hartrop.

Walters' first scoring shot was a catchable flash in the air past the leaden-footed Gully for four.

He was to give no further chances.

Martin Beedell at the other end had seemed in control and was unlucky when an innocuous delivery ricocheted from bat to pad and just dislodged the bail dismissing him for a duck.

Jamie Elliott then joined Walters and was quickly scoring with some excellent cover drives and late square cuts. Hartrop bowled himself and was rewarded finally when Walters was stumped by Steven Bidwell.

Walters had quickly passed his 50 and pressed on with abandon to score his second superb ton of the season, eventually being dismissed for 115.

Elliott had by this time also reached his 50 while James Arnold chipped in with an undefeated seven at the end to leave Barley on 234-2 off their 40 overs.

In reply Eversden knew that they would have to go from the off at nearly six an over to win.

Symes had other ideas though and quickly bowled Bidwell for three and had Yousaf well caught at deep mid-off by Leigh Stewart for five.

Symes ended with superb figures of 2-16 off his 10 overs. Michael Ross' sole wicket was down to a superb diving catch by Elliott low down at mid-wicket.

Change bowlers Stewart and Mark Downer then came under attack as Hartrop (66) and David Pearce (51no) made a game of it as the run rate slowly climbed out of reach.

Downer suffered some lax catching by Barley that almost let Eversden back into a game that could have guaranteed their promotion. But in the end Barley ran out comfortable winners with Eversden ending on 215-8.