Match Report

First XI vs Trafford MV

Robinson earns his barley as Barns make it three in a row

Saturday 27^th June saw Hale Barns 1^st XI record their third consecutive win, with a convincing 112 runs victory over Trafford Metrovicks.

Following victories over Northwich and Hollingworth in the league and cup the previous weekend, Hale Barns were confident of continuing their revival against the Sale based Metrovicks. However, after skipper Wood lost the toss and was asked to bat first, the Hale Barns innings got off to the worst possible start. Metrovicks opened the bowling with the seemingly innocuous Haughton, yet despite plundering ten runs off the first two overs, Barns opener Filson contrived to plant a leg-side half-volley into the grateful arms of fine-leg in the slow-left armer's second over. That Haughton was only bowling due to the late arrival of Metrovicks usual opener only added fuel to the combustible Filson's fire.

In previous weeks the early loss of Filson has triggered a Barns batting collapse, but this week the returning number three Jaiswal, along with Robinson, steadied the ship. Robinson in particular was displaying the improved concentration and confidence that has marked his efforts opening the batting, following on from a string of disappointments in the middle order earlier in the season. Both batsmen were soon into their stride, with Robinson gleefully tucking into the many balls that strayed onto his pads, cleverly working the gaps in the leg side field.

The Metrovicks cause wasn't helped when having eventually found his way to the ground, Abbas was forced to retire from bowling having delivered just 4.3 overs, and by the time Jaiswal (35) was out LBW, the batsmen had taken the score to 128, culminating a superb partnership of 116 that proved the telling contribution of the game. This brought Wood (12) to the crease, wielding a new blade and immediately showing more fluency than the previous week. The left-hander caressed a couple trademark cover drives to the boundary, before the hard working Sulliman (20-4-88-3) earned the first of his three wickets, snaring the Barns captain with a catch to the keeper.

Meanwhile Robinson's innings went from strength to strength. Having recorded his first fifty for the club, he pressed the accelerator, and began to find the boundary at will. Eventually though, the hot conditions took their toll, and Robinson was visibly tiring. With new bat Dunley struggling to find any rhythm, the Barns innings lost impetus. Robinson was finally out caught at deep cover for a superb 94 including 11 fours and 3 sixes, with Dunley (6) and P Stubbs (5) following soon after. Number seven Collins again provided a timely boost adding 16 off 12 balls, before Saddington (6*) and Molloy (1*) saw the Barns through to an imposing 198-7 off their allotted 45 overs.

In response, Metrovicks were immediately in trouble as Hale Barns produced a bowling display remarkably similar to that which defeated Northwich the previous week. Again Dunley proved almost unplayable early on, obtaining both swing and movement off the pitch to remove both openers cheaply (Greenwood 1, Warner 7). Again the evergreen Molloy provided the perfect foil at the other end, and despite going six wicketless overs, suffocated the batsmen conceding just one run in this time. Eventually the metronome's unerring accuracy paid off, as the Metrovicks number 4 saw his off peg knocked back. A brief rain shower provided Metrovicks a glimmer of hope, however this proved only a temporary respite, and if anything served to liven up the track.

Dunley (8-2-24-2) was unlucky not to obtain further reward, again finishing on two wickets as the injured Abbas showed some fighting spirit to strike 14 runs from Dunley's final over. However, the guile of the experienced Saddington proved too much for Abbas, with several huge heaves achieving nothing more than aggravating the batsman's side strain. Eventually, both Abbas (34) and former Barns player Searle (13) - who had shown dogged resistance - fell LBW to Saddington.

The old-timers were again showing the reward for wicket-to-wicket bowling with Kershaw (0) and Sulliman (2) befalling to a similar fate at the hands of Molloy, before Saddington (7-3-5-3) claimed a third LBW scalp. With the game all but won, the Warhorse was put out to pasture, finishing another impressive workload (14-4-33-3), and passing the ball to team fielder Berks. At eight wickets down, Hope wasn't yet lost for Metrovicks - however he was soon out, bowled by Berks for 8.  After an inauspicious first two overs, Berks (3-1-12-2) then bagged a confidence-boosting brace of wickets, seeing off Haughton (0) to end the game. Metrovicks all out for 82, a huge 112 runs short of their target.

Skipper Wood was understandably delighted with the 25 points and commented, "Ang, have we packed the sun screen?"

Next week the Barns face a massive weekend of cricket - seeking to avenge an earlier 20/20 cup defeat at league hi-fliers Ashton-on-Mersey on Saturday, before entertaining county premier league big boys Bramhall in the Cheshire Shield on Sunday.