BARNARD CASTLE CRICKET CLUB
BARNEY were denied their first win of the season on Saturday by Thornaby’s last wicket pair. In 16 defiant overs a match they looked to have in the bag gradually slipped away.
From 78-9 in the 34th over, Hartlepool clawed their way to 122-9 at the end of the 50th to earn an unlikely draw.
Barney used five bowlers to try to break the stubborn partnership but all were kept at bay on a typically slow pitch at Mandale Bottoms.
Coming after last week’s heavy defeat against Hartlepool, it leaves Barney eighth in the embryonic NYSD table. They will need to start winning shortly if they are to mount a serious challenge for their third title.
The most heartening aspect of the match was the form of the club’s two professionals. Samarth Seth, the 21-year-old left-hander from India, made a smooth 65 from 57 balls and left-arm spinner Karl Carver took 7-22 in 15 overs, his best return for Barney.
Seth, in particular, was given a firm platform from which to launch his innings. Openers James Clarkson and Owen Peddelty put on 104 for the first wicket (following their 172 against the same opposition last season).
When they went in quick succession, Clarkson for a well-judged 67 from 95 balls which included seven fours, Seth eased into his role ensuring the board rattled along. By the time he was out with only three overs left of the innings, he had ensured Barney were in control.
A total of 219-6 was always bound to be challenging on the surface and Thornaby made no serious attempt to match it. Indeed, after a resilient opening their innings was quickly in disarray against Carver. He took wickets regularly and a 25-point win looked to be a formality.
But wickets steadfastly refused to fall at the other end and the 10th wicket pair of Steven Purcifer and Jack Turnbull sensed they could survive. They negotiated Carver’s last three overs and after that none of the rest could manage the breakthrough.
Barney
J Clarkson B Turnbull 67, O Peddelty lbw Simon 30, S Seth b Gettings 65, J Quinn b Turnbull 14, F Usher b Bakhari 7, K Carver not out 7, R Watson run out 8, J Bousfield not out 1, Extras 20, Total (50 overs) 219 for 6
Bowling: L Harper 67-0-26-0, J Turnbull 15-2-59-2, L Gettings 4-0-30-1, H Bukhari 10-0-51-1, T Simon 15-3-50-1
Thornaby
D Seymour b Carver 16, J Watson c Merryweather b West 18, P Allen b Usher 9,H Bukhari b Carver 6,T Simon c Bousfield b Carver 7, L Harper lbw Carver 1, H Spaxman b Carver 1, S Purcifer not out 34, L Gettings lbw Carver 5, D Crossland c Peddelty b Carver 1, J Turnbull not out 11, Extras 13, Total (50 overs) 122 for 9
Bowling: J Bousfield 12-2-35-0, R Dixon 5-0-12-0, R West 5-1-19-1, K Carver 15-3-22-7, F Usher 7-0-9-1, R Watson 5-0-17-0, S Seth 1-0-1-0
Match drawn
Barney II v Thornaby II
With a perfect straight ball of full length Barney II won a gripping match against Thornaby II on Saturday. They did what their 1st XI chums could not do and, at the last, broke a resilient last wicket stand which was threatening to deny them victory.
Oscar Usher provided the terminal blow after the opposition 10th wicket pair had resisted gallantly for 15 overs. They had a little more work to do than they might have wished and this proved their undoing.
Barney had been bowled out in 46.3 overs of their 50 meaning that their unused allocation was handed to Thornaby.
The second innings would span 53 overs, not the usual 50 and it was Barney who benefited.
It was a delightful match on a cold afternoon and there was again a large gathering of people taking advantage of the hospitality.
Seven of Barney’s batsman reached doubled figures. At the start Ian Swinburn and Aiden Wiltshire, in their contrasting styles, gave them a solid start against the accurate new ball pair of Luke Metcalfe and Danny Wade, the former always looking to attack, the second pleasingly cautious.
Adam Bainbridge played a typically forceful innings which included seven fours and a six before holing out with a 50 at his mercy.
Captain Richard Stanwix and Shane Mullery provided the late order burst of activity which ensured a workable total.
Barney had the perfect start when Tom Merryweather struck with his first ball but Heshan Liyanage made merry threateningly for a while with 36 from 25 balls before order was restored.
Wickets fell regularly in the middle order with both Peter Stanwix and Shane Mullery turning in admirable performances. At 126-9 it looked all up for Thornaby but although they lived dangerously times they stuck at their task.
At the end of the 50th over some thought it was a draw. But that was to reckon without the extra three overs at Barney’s disposal (and the fact that Thornaby were now only 18 runs short themselves). Usher, whose bowling had been slightly fitful till then, stepped up and produced a superb yorker to confound Ben Peacock.
Barney II 189 all out (46.3 overs, A Bainbridge 48, I Swinburn 35, R Stanwix 30, A Wiltshire 19, S Mullery 15, T Bell 3-67, L Metcalfe 2-23, B Peacock 2-55); Thornaby II 172 all out (50.1 overs, H Liyanage 36, B Peacock 31, L Metcalfe 23, D Wade 18, T Bell 11no, T Merryweather 4-58, P Stanwix 3-38). Barney won by 17 runs
