Barnard Castle CC
WITHOUT quite finding top gear, Barney comfortably registered their first league win of the curtailed 2020 season on Saturday. They defeated Normanby Hall, newly promoted to the NYSD Premier Division, by 73 runs.
It was a mixed performance from a team expected to challenge for the title but Barney started and finished strongly to collect the 25 points on offer for batting first. The groundwork for the innings was solidly laid by new opener Finn Usher and captain James Quinn.
Usher was watchful and careful in equal measure, Quinn looked in sublime form from the moment he came in. Both unfurled elegant, eye-catching cover drives.
Quinn reached his half century first before being bowled by the persevering Matthew Rose. Usher became slightly bogged down against the highly promising seam of 15-year-old Abdaar Rishaq, whose accuracy and movement created consternation among all the batsmen.
The four wickets it brought as the middle order folded were well deserved. As was Usher’s half century, brought up shortly before he became the third of Abdaar’s four victims. Going from 137-3 to 144-8, Barney vitally needed some late resistance to avoid leaving a target that was all too attainable.
They found it in their last three. Expertly marshalled by Richard Watson, whose approach was clinical, the last two wickets added an invaluable 50. Rob West and Rob Dixon played their part in rotating the strike as Watson punished anything wayward.
Although Normanby’s innings had its moments in the early stages with both Rashad Rashid and Owen Tennant hanging around, the initiative was usually with Barney. The arrival of Dixon and professional Karl Carver into the attack gave Barney control they never relinquished as the run rate was reduced to less than two an over.
Carver finished with his second five wicket haul in as many league matches, Josh Bousfield returned to remove the tail and Barney felt as though they were on their way.
Barney
J Clarkson c and b Rose 9, F Usher b Abdaar 56, J Quinn b Rose 53, K Carver b Rose 0, R Borrowdale b Abdaar 9, T Merryweather lbw Bell 1, J Bousefield lbw Abdaar 1, R Watson not out 28, P Merryweather lbw Abdaar 0, R West run out 12, R Dixon b Witherley 10, Extras 16 Total 194 all out (49 overs)
Bowling: C Witherley 11-1-54-1, M Rose 15-2-41-3, N Bell 14-2-61-1, Abdaar Rishaq 6-1-17-4, A Street 3-0-19-0
Normanby Hall
J Gaudie lbw Dixon 12, N Bell c Dixon b Bousfield 1, R Rashid b Carver 25, O Tennant c P Merryweather b Bousfield 29, J Leech c Clarkson b Carver 4, M Brown b Watson 15, A Street lbw Carver 16, C Chillingsworth lbw Carver 0, M Rose lbw Bousefield 1, C Witherley lbw Carver 3, A Rishaq not out 0, Extras 15, Total 121 all out (44.1 overs)
Bowling: J Bousfield 9.1-1-21-3, T Merryweather 4-0-24-0, K Carver 14-8-11-5, R Dixon 10-3-20-1, R Watson 4-0-24-1, R West 3-0-15-0
Barney won by 73 runs
Norton v Barney II
Dropped catches cost an otherwise commendable Barney seconds at Norton. They had to settle for a draw with their opponents nine wickets down and well adrift of Barney’s imposing total.
The chief contributors to Barney’s innings were James Alderson, a key member of the 2018 NYSD championship winning side, and captain Richard Stanwix.
Alderson could hardly have reminded the selectors more firmly that he wants his 1st XI place back with a sterling century. His 136 came from only 138 balls and included 14 fours and two sixes.
Stanwix lent excellent support after Barney had suddenly fallen to 100-5, and shared a stand of 152 for the sixth wicket. He too went along at a lick, taking only 67 balls for his 69no.
Barney should have pressed home their advantage. With Tom Brooks and Adam Smith both in form with the new ball, they were soon into the middle order with only Gary Burgum showing prolonged resistance. But they spurned chances with the upshot that despite working their way through the innings, Norton’s last pair had only nine balls to negotiate.
Barney II 269 for 7 (50 overs), J Alderson 134, R Stanwix 69no, A Bainbridge 25, C Symington 3-31, B Duncan 3-67; Norton 182 for 9 (50 overs), G Burgum 74, C Jones 32no, C Atkinson 28, T Brooks 3-36, P Stanwix 2-33, A Smith 2-41. Match drawn
Barney III v
Billingham Sythnonia III
It was fitting that such a thoroughly entertaining match should have the tightest of finishes. Barney, heading for defeat, staged an excellent comeback before narrowly losing by two runs.
The revival from 79-7 in pursuit of 153 to win was led by Daniel Watson who played a host of pleasing shots. Barney had started well through Andrew Gedye and Theo Truss before the middle order succumbed all too quickly.
But Watson, with nine fours and two sixes, took them to the brink of victory, finding valuable support from John Lucas. The late introduction of young James Phillips tilted the match Billingham’s way and when he bowled Watson the three runs needed proved elusive.
For Barney most of the bowlers acquitted themselves well as Billingham’s innings was held together by Ben Phillips.
Billingham 152 for 9 (40 overs, B Phillips 54, J Armstrong 25, D Watson 2-14, A Gedye 2-26, T Truss 2-28, S Dolby 2-39); Barney 150 all out (33 overs, D Watson 56, A Gedye 22, T Truss 19, J Lucas 19, B Phillips 4-29, J Phillips 3-16).
Synthonia won by two runs
Macmillan Cup
Barney v
Normanby Hall
The late start to the season has not prevented the staging of at least some evening cup cricket. In front of a large crowd last Thursday, Barney had a splendid start to their campaign to win the Macmillan Cup for the third time.
Normanby set a reasonable target but Barney had too much firepower to be contained as James Quinn and James Clarkson virtually sealed matters with an enterprising opening stand of 88.
Normanby Hall 125 for 7 (20 overs, O Tennant 49, N Bell 26, J Quinn 3-17); Barney 128 for 2 (17.2 overs, J Quinn 69no, J Clarkson 32)
Barney won by 8 wickets
Fixtures
Thursday, July 30: 1st XI v Middlesbrough (H, 6pm) Macmillan Cup.
Saturday, August 1: 1st XI v Hartlepool (A, 12.30pm), 2nd XI v Hartlepool II (H, 12.30pm).
Sunday, August 2: 3rd XI v Darlington RA (A, 1.30pm).
