Elsecar stun in-form Barnsley for double and hope for strong finish
ELSECAR are hoping for a strong end to the season after they stunned in-form Barnsley Woolley Miners in a 32-run win which pushed them clear of the relegation zone.
The Shaw Laners had won six of their last seven league games but Elsecar completed the double over them.
Sam Shaw made 68 in Elsecar’s 208 then Muhammed Ilyas took seven wickets.
Barnsley’s openers put on 42 but they collapsed to 63 for five then were all out for 176.
Elsecar captain Peter Hadfield said: “It was a really good win against the form team in the league.
“It was a tricky wicket so winning the toss was big. Barnsley fought really well all the way.
“Illy picked up seven wickets and is ridiculously consistent.
“Sam grafted really well with the bat and formed the backbone of our innings.
“It’s definitely good to do the double over Barnsley. They didn’t have their strongest side for the first game so this time it’s even better.”
Barnsley remain fifth but Elsecar are now fourth-bottom, 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
Hadfield said: “The margins are so fine. If we had won the previous week, we would have been well in the top half now. “We have been very inconsistent, which is disappointing, and we haven’t done ourselves justice. But hopefully we can put ourselves in a position where we’re looking up the table to the kind of position we should be in.”
Barnsley captain Jason Booth said:
“We were poor. We have opened with our spinners in the last few weeks but they didn’t bowl well.
“We wrestled it back a bit and 208 shouldn’t be enough to beat us.
“We had a great start with the bat but we went back to the way we used to play.
“We played the situation, not going forward and trying to dominate
“We didn’t attack.
“I would rather have attacked and been bowled out for 130.
“Credit to Elsecar who bowled well.
“We didn’t want anyone to do the double over us this season so it is a shame.
“We’re safe in the league for all intents and purposes, which was our target.
“The idea of winning every game to win the league is not realistic now.
“We just want to dominate all the games we play and enjoy it.”
Owen Smith – a 15-year-old who topscored for Barnsley with 46 – has been called up for the North of England team for his age group.
Cawthorne are second-bottom after falling 38 runs short chasing 231 at Cleethorpes.
Ahmed Matloob and Michael Jepps took three wickets each.