Seven-wicket triumph for Barley against Barrington on Saturday

CCA Junior League 1B

Barrington 104 all-out (36 overs)

Barley 105-3 (25.4 o.)

Barley won by seven wickets

BARLEY won their first match of 2012 on Saturday with a straightforward victory over Barrington.

It was with some relief that Barley skipper Brian Symes correctly called the toss following the heavy rain of the previous 10 days and he had no hesitation in inviting the opposition to bat on their own sticky wicket.

Ian Hopwood and Paul Davies started well enough for Barrington, punishing any wayward bowling from Rick Wilson (6-1-0-28) and the pair had pushed the run rate along at over four an over until, with the score on 58, Davies was dismissed for 33, caught and bowled by Sami Ullah (7-3-2-16). In his next over Ullah continued his fine spell and bowled Douglas for a duck. Jimmy Ghani (10-0-1-27) then dismissed Hopwood for 24 with an unplayable cutter that clean bowled him.

Leigh Stewart and Ali Wallace (7-1-1-19) then took over bowling duties and the latter trapped Elliott Griggs lbw for a duck. Stewart, from the other end, simply bowled wicket to wicket and, with the unpredictable Barrington bounce, quickly had the home team in further trouble and they were eventually out for 104. Stewart finished with excellent figures of 5-3-5-6.

In reply, Barley openers Ullah and Stewart started brightly. Stewart guided the ball around between the fielders for singles whilst Ullah hammered the ball to the boundary with such force that by the 10th over he had already broken two bats and was on to his third. He then advanced down the wicket a little too far and was well stumped by Lees for 32.

Stewart kept going as Allan came in and scored a rapid eight before dollying a catch to mid-on after being cruelly distracted by movement behind Hopwood. Adam Pattison came in and played an unusually responsible innings with Stewart who pressed on to 44 until he was given out lbw to one that appeared to hit him well above the pads.

Wilson and Pattison were left to close the game out with Pattison hitting a four to finish the game in just the 25th over. Stewart was Man of the Match and his team were deserved winners and were grateful for 20 points in their first game this year.