Fighting display by tailenders not enough for Quorn

QUORN’S batting travails continued on Saturday, when they visited Barrow Town.

With a green pitch, damp from overnight rain, it was no surprise, that after winning the toss, Barrow captain Sam Shipman, asked the visitors to bat first.

With the ball swinging in the muggy conditions, Quorn were given a stern examination by the Barrow seam attack. Matt Taylor (1-39) and notably Jim Watts (4-30) were able to get movement in the air and off the pitch as the Quorn batsmen struggled.

After 13 overs, the writing was on the wall, with Quorn 37-4, with only Andy Kenneth (15) reaching double figures. Batting at number four, debutant Tom Hayes played some beautiful drives, advancing the score to 59-5, before he was bowled by a Watts in-swinger which cut away to hit the top of off stump.

Wickets continued to tumble as Mark Smith (1-10) and Lee Smith (1-16) kept the pressure on Quorn. Will Huish (24) took an aggressive approach hitting three fours and a six taking Quorn to 110-8 and when Jon Reynolds was run out from the first ball of the 34th over, Quorn had subsided to 112-9.

However, Adam Lee was in no mood to surrender easily and effectively protecting number 11 Jack Child (9*), was able to frustrate the Barrow spin attack.

Taking advantage of the improving nature of the wicket, and being selective with his hitting Lee made an undefeated 60, hitting seven fours and two sixes. Lee and Child’s undefeated 53 partnership, took Quorn’s score to a semi-respectable 165-9.

After tea, with the wicket, now a fine batting deck and under blue skies, Quorn captain Andy Kenneth, realised he had to take early wickets. Opening the bowling, with his own brand of teasing away swingers, Jon Reynolds snared both opening batsmen, coaxing them to hole out to Adam Lee at mid-wicket. When Reynolds had Ben Wilson (24) caught behind he had taken 3-13 from his six overs and Barrow were 40-3. Ronnie Kotecha, coming in at number five, started in circumspect fashion. Dealing exclusively in singles, with the occasional four, he frustrated the Quorn bowlers and although Adam Lee (2-36) had Pete Roberts (16) stunningly caught by Andy Kenneth to leave Barrow 84-4, progress was generally untroubled.

Kotecha played in increasingly aggressive fashion and although he fell nine runs short of the victory target for 65, the game was up. It was left to Cam Smith (30*) to hit the winning runs as Barrow won by five wickets, with four overs to spare.

Despite the defeat, Quorn move up one place at the foot of the table, leapfrogging Electricity sports. Next week, Quorn host highflying Asian sports and it will be imperative that the batsmen are able to do a more effective job than they have done so far this season.