Disappointing triple loss for club

IT WAS a difficult week for Barwell CC as all three senior sides lost.

The struggling first team travelled to Leicester Ivanhoe Seconds hoping a win would lift them from the bottom of Division Two.

Barwell did well to bowl Ivanhoe out for 172 in the 40th over, but poor batting hampered their chances.

Nick Hines (four for 37) and Matt Welsh (three for 29) bowled superbly for Barwell and they were well supported by captain Guy Norris (two for 45) and Ben Betteridge (one for 27).

But Barwell’s batting got off to a disastrous start, losing both openers with only five runs.

Tommy Wright and Jack Smith steadied the innings but Barwell were soon in trouble again as Wright was caught for 16 to make the score 34 for five.

Norris and Dec Allen put on 46 for the sixth wicket before Norris was caught for 23. Allen was then bowled for 21 to leave Barwell on 85 for nine.

Barwell’s innings ended in the 26th over as they were bowled out for just 100.

Back at Kirkby Road, Barwell Seconds entertained Grace Dieu Park Seconds and batted first.

Geoff Hines and George Baker got the innings off to a steady start before Baker was run out with the score on 21.

Hines was then joined by Adam Stradling and the pair took the score on to 47 before Hines was caught for 23.

A third wicket stand of 71 between Stradling and Brad Harvey was finally broken when Harvey was caught for 19 to make the score 118 for three.

Barwell then lost four quick wickets before Ady Baker and Stradling put on an unbroken 37 for the seventh wicket.

Baker ended on 17 not out and Stradling an excellent 90 not out as Barwell closed their innings on 190 for seven.

Barwell’s young bowling attack started well to reduce Grace Dieu to 34 for two, with Sam Taylor claiming both wickets.

However, a third wicket stand of 60 between Johnson and Staley put the visitors in a strong position.

The stand was broken when Johnson was caught by Brad Harvey for 30.

Barwell wasted a series of dropped catches as Staley went on to score 71 before being eventually caught thanks the bowling of Rowley.

An unbroken sixth wicket stand of 35 took Grace Dieu to their winning total of 192 for five - with five overs in hand.

In the Thursday league, Barwell played host to Newbold Verdon in a match which saw 320 runs scored in just 36 overs.

Batting first, Newbold Verdon posted 166 for five in their 18 overs, with Matt Gransden and Jacob Bailey scoring 73 not out and 43 respectively.

Barwell’s run chase fell just 12 runs short as Adam Stapleford-Jones scored an impressive 87 which included five sixes.

Barwell were out for 154 as Joe Cartwright (six for 38) completed a hat-trick off the final ball of the innings.