Club out of drop zone after draw

BARWELL leaped out of the relegation zone after securing a winning draw against Countesthorpe at the weekend.

Due to heavy rain, there was only time for a 20 over match.

Countesthope finished their innings with a poor 78-7, which Barwell trumped with 139-6 to scoop 17 points from the draw.

The result leaves Barwell 10 points clear of relegation with two games to go.

On Saturday, the home side won the toss and asked Barwell to bat first.

Countesthorpe got off to a good start, reducing Barwell to 26-2 in the first six overs.

However a third wicket stand of 64 between Mark Racklyeft and Jack Smith tipped the balance in Barwell’s favour.

Smith was the first to fall when he was caught for 26.

Racklyeft was joined by Dec Allen and the pair added a further 38 before Racklyeft was run out just three runs short of a half century.

Allen continued to score freely, hitting two enormous straight sixes, and finished 25 not out as Barwell’s innings closed on 139-6.

Countesthorpe’s run chase got off to a disastrous start as Ady Baker claimed two wickets in two balls in the third over.

The home side bounced back slightly until Nick Hines bowled Hendry for 15 to leave them 33-3 after seven overs.

Hines and Kyle Newall continued to take regular wickets to reduce Countesthorpe to 64-7 after 15 overs.

That was the cue for Countesthorpe to ‘shut up shop’ and they batted out the remaining five overs to end on 78-7.

All the bowlers performed well with the wickets being shared between Hines (three for 15), Baker (two for 14) and Newall (two for 23).

Barwell will hope to continue their good form on Saturday when they travel to table-toppers Langtons.