CCA Junior League 1B

Barley 92-6 (27 o.)

Ashwell 88 (35.4 o.)

Barley won by four wickets

BARLEY completed a deserved second league win against Ashwell in a fortnight on Saturday.

Barley skipper Brian Symes won the toss and had no hesitation in inserting Ashwell to bat on a wicket still damp from the morning’s rain. Ed Wainwright-Lee and Martin Deal played well enough against Michael Ross (1-19 off 10 overs) and Richie Wilson (1-17off 8) but never got the run rate above 2.5.

With the score on 30 Deal tried to slog Ross but sent an overhead catch to Bear Strange at first slip and was out for 19. Tim Moynihan hit Ross for a 6 first ball but then became tied down as Ross craftily varied his pace and flight.

Wainwright-Lee was clean bowled by Strange for 33 with one that drifted in and took his off stump and Clark was well stumped by James O’Sullivan as Ashwell looked in danger at 40-4.

Jake England played some fine shots but was swiftly clean bowled by Leigh Stewart who had by now taken over from the admirable Ross. With his frustration boiling over, Moynihan then holed out to Nick Butler patrolling the boundary for Leigh Stewart.

Strange caught and bowled Martin Talks for 5 and suddenly Barley were into the tail.

Stewart continued to bowl good, pitched-up balls to off-stump and quickly bowled Miles Green for a duck and had R Turner caught and bowled for 1.

Wilson came back and dismissed Ben Turner for 1 with a brute of a bouncer that he could only fend off to the lurking Symes at silly mid-off. Ashwell had gamely come out to bat twice following heavy rain showers as they realised the importance of getting 20 points for a win. Unfortunately for them, they finished on 88 all-out after 35 overs.

Stewart returned his best ever figures for Barley taking 5-14 in his 10 overs.

In reply, Symes and Wilson started briskly, fearing the rain could return and spoil Barley’s chance of victory. Wilson played the anchor as Symes raced on to 20. Then, playing a fine looking cut, Symes was brilliantly caught low down at gully by an Ashwell fielder off Talks.

Allan looked dangerous but misjudged a yorker and was clean bowled for a duck. Bear Strange was then caught behind for a golden duck fencing off a bouncer and suddenly Barley were in a little trouble at 30-3.

O’Sullivan joined his fellow Old Framlinghamian Wilson (16) and steadied the ship with some smart batting against Skelding and Talks. Eventually Moynihan had Wilson trapped lbw as he was struck on the full in front off middle.

Barley went on to seal the win in 27 overs with O’Sullivan hitting a big 6 to finish on 29*.