Barnard Castle CC
A DETERMINED team performance gave Barney a superb start to their league season on Saturday. Under the new captaincy of James Quinn they defeated Darlington by three wickets at Feethams with every player contributing.
Four bowlers took wickets, six batsmen reached double figures, five fielders took catches. The only mild criticism could be that it was quite so close after Barney reduced their opponents to 13 for three and 64 for 5.
That is to cavil. In general it was exactly the sort of performance a new look side needed after their tame display in the first round of the National Cup.
The two newcomers to the club, professional Alasdair Appleby and Australian amateur, Giles Creedon, were both impressive.
Appleby took four wickets with intelligent off spin and then gave a solid start to the innings while Creedon fielded tigerishly before playing a crucial anchor role in a key fifth wicket partnership with Josh Bousfield.
It was Bousfield, thriving on the responsibility of vice-captaincy, who gave Barney the start they wanted. Finding an exact length, he took an early wicket and was always menacing. He found perfect support from Rob Dixon whose constant probing around off stump brought him two early wickets.
Darlington rallied a little but although Andrew Peacock played a watchful innings at number six in a stubborn partnership with Sri Lankan professional Rajeewa Weerasinghe, Appleby kept matters under firm control.
The pursuit started well. Both Appleby and James Alderson were in splendid touch but both were out when looking set. With Quinn and Richard Borrowdale both struggling for form in this early stage of the season, Barney found themselves at 54 for 4.
But Creedon and Bousfield responded admirably. Creedon rotated the strike cleverly, Bousfield attacked with characteristic flair.
Their contrasting contributions were reflected in the figures – Bousfield needed only 53 balls for his 44, Creedon, curbing his attacking instincts, faced 61 balls for his 17.
When they were both out in quick succession, Barney might still have stumbled.
Mike Dixon, rightly back in the first team after several seasons, and Richard Watson stylishly ensured that they stayed smoothly on course to the 20 points.
Darlington
J Sutton c P Merryweather b R Dixon 2; N Wright b Bousfield 7; L Coates c Appleby b Dixon 1; P Freary c M Dixon b Appleby 12; A Metcalfe b T Merryweather 23; A Peacock not out 49; R Weerasinghe c P Merryweather b Appleby 28; O King c R Dixon b Appleby 6; T Lush c Alderson b Appleby 1; A Sturgeon not out 0; Extras 17 – Total 148 for 8 (50 overs)
Bowling – J Bousfield 13-4-32-1; R Dixon 12-3-23-2; T Merryweather 7-2-17-1; A Appleby 13-1-41-4; R Watson 5-0-22-0.
Barney
A Appleby c Lush b Coates 19; J Alderson c Lush b Weerasinghe 16; J Quinn lbw Coates 5; G Creedon c Sutton b Coates 17; R Borrowdale c&b Coates 4; J Bousfield st Sturgeon b Weerasinghe 44; M Dixon c Coates b King 19; R Watson not out 10; R Dixon not out 4; Extras 9 – Total 147 for 7 (44.4 overs)
Bowling – O King 4.4-0-26-1; L Coates 15-5-32-4; R Weerasinghe 15-1-45-2; D Baldwin 10-1-36-0
Barney won by three wickets.
Barney II v Bedale
IT might have been a bitterly cold April day with the wind sweeping across the ground but this was cricket to warm the heart of the sternest critic. Both sides played a thoroughly entertaining part on a lovely pitch that defied the impediments of a long winter.
Justin Hesp and Cameron McKnight, perhaps the tallest opening batting partnership in Barney’s history, gave the season a rip-roaring start. Adam Smith looked well-ordered, Shane Mullery, as usual, played a calm hand.
But it was Joe Toulson who brought the innings fully to life. Dropped three times before he had reached 20 he then enjoyed himself immensely with a series of improvised attacking shots which brought him a six and 11 fours.
At tea it seemed that such a formidable early season score would make Barney immune from defeat.
Bedale, however, went about the pursuit with a zest that never faltered though Jake Black’s accurate opening spell deserved reward. Barney kept plugging away and with Adam Smith reaping the benefits of bowling fast and straight in his second spell the result was always in doubt.
Barney 217 for 8 (50 overs, J Toulson 74, J Hesp 29, C McKnight 25, A Smith 24, S Mullery 17, J Bousfield 14, K O’Gorman 2-17); Bedale 221 for 8 (C Coulson 57, J Heads 53, L Marshall 36, A Smith 4-55, S Mullery 2-70).
Barney III v Yarm II
THE early part of the third team’s season will consist of Twenty20 matches in the reconfigured Ray Bell Cup. They took to it gleefully. The centrepiece, after Joe Toulson completed a successful weekend with another rousing innings, was a father and son partnership of 49 between Ben and Finn Usher.
Dad launched a sequence of trademark straight drives on to the pavilion, son pulled ferociously through the leg side, often from outside off stump.
It was hectic stuff and all too much for Yarm, who were never in the hunt.
Jake Black again bowled with skill with excellent support from a winningly enthusiastic young side.
Barney 148-4 (20 overs, B Usher 37no, F Usher 33, J Toulson 29); Yarm 70 all out (19.4 overs, M Nadeem 19, J Black 4-20, F Usher 3-17, C McKnight 2-21). Barney won by 78 runs.
Fixtures:
Saturday – First XI v Bishop Auckland (H 1pm, Premier Club Day); second XI v Rockcliffe Park (A 1pm).
Sunday – Third XI v Darlington H 3pm)
Monday – First XI v Great Ayton (Kerridge Cup, A 2pm), Second XI v Sedgefield (H 1pm).
