Match Report

First XI vs Alvanley

Barns were once again the wrong side of a tight finish. Again, promising signs were undermined by a lack of the 'killer instinct.'

After various cry outs during the week from both Barns teams, Saturday morning began fairly chaotically. However, after a redeployment of troops, cutting and rolling the strip - Hale Barns were ready to get their season on track.

HBCC lost the toss and - after a forum of which the ancient Greeks would have been proud - Alvanley en masse inserted Hale Barns.

Robinson and Filson got the Barns away to a flyer both players very fluent. Filson (21) was the first to go after only five or six overs - top edging a pull which was well caught by Ecclestone on the rope with the score on 34.

Cooper went early on LBW. Wood joined Robinson who continued to look positive until he went for a shot too many and was caught at point off Shewring, again, for 21. Barns found themselves on 68/3 from 9 overs.

This brought Jimmy Dunley to the wicket, who drove his first ball from Shewring with great aplomb through wide mid off for four. The sign of the good innings to follow.

Wood and Dunley set about using up a few overs, controversially deciding that it might be better to use up some of the overs rather than be bowled out by drinks for 150. Wood again doing his best impression of a farmyard hen, scratched around for singles whereas Dunley's patience was intermingled with the odd free flowing stroke. To be fair, Shewring and Fisher bowled pretty well throughout this period.

Wood got a bit too excited after flicking two consecutive fours through midwicket and had to go and have a sit down - nicking the next behind. The third player to fall on 21.

Saddington hung around a bit and Iqbal added a bit of a cameo innings of 18 before holing out a deep extra cow. However, the innings belonged to Dunley who brought up his first fifty for the club. An excellent innings which  - other than a strong stumping appeal - was chanceless.

Dunley was finally stumped for 51 and, when Shewring breached the watertight (!) defences of Mike Berks, the innings was closed on 173 at the end of 44 overs. Not a bad effort but perhaps could have 10-15 more?

Once again Dunley and Molloy took the new cherry… and once again they kept things impressively tight. Bennion looked to drop anchor whereas his partner Shewring went hard (and with limited success) at most deliveries - the last time something was seen swishing around like that, Don Quixote was tilting at it.

It wasn't long before Shewring's stumps were reclining on the horizontal, bowled by Dunley. However, this brought the impressive looking youngster Pearce to the wicket who added much needed impetus to the run chase - particularly severe on first change Saddington.

Berks replaced Saddo and got immediate success finding the edge of Pearce's (36)  bat and was caught by Wood at gully. Berks had found a good groove up hill and, with hindsight (or Filson-sight!), perhaps shouldn't have changed ends. The dangerous Bennion seeming to relish the prospect of a down hill Berks much much more.

Robinson was given a whirl up the hill and immediately began to take wickets however Bennion had found his mojo.

The shy and retiring Filson - who had decided he was keeping wicket - picked up a stumping from Robinson (5-44) and, combined with a number of suicidal shots, Barns got right back in the game.

Robinson got Bennion (64) whilst Alvanley were about 15 short - but this was a bit too late. To rub salt in to the wounds - Alvanley got the required runs in the overtime of the 46th over.

A very good game played in good spirit and well umpired - but, importantly, another disappointing result. The batting was much better and 14 points (to Alvanley's 20) were of some consolation.

On to Northwich next week who are up the right end of the league