Barrow U13s produced a much-improved performance in what has been a difficult season to date. Following a chastening defeat at Grappenhall, the team re-grouped and captain of the day, Elliot, decided on a new strategy to try and instil more of a winning mentality.

Winning the toss and taking the field, Barrow produced a disciplined bowling display with Ben, Yusef, Layla and Elliot sharing the first 12 overs to try and make in-roads into Lymm’s top order. Ben took the important wicket of Lymm’s captain who went for 4, and Leo took an excellent catch of Elliot’s second over to remove Lymm’s No.3 for 17. The new strategy really paid dividends when Layla took the ball for her third over. Firstly, she clean bowled Lymm’s opener off her first ball, then on her fourth ball she took her second wicket with Lymm’s No.5 going for a duck, and quickly followed that with her third wicket removing their No.6 for another duck. What an over – a 3wkt maiden, leaving Lymm struggling on 45/5.

Rufus and Patrick backed-up the top order bowlers with a disciplined display, before Lewis took a wicket-maiden, Alex and Leo kept it tight, and Luke took a wicket for two runs in the 20th over to set Barrow an appealing target of 75 to win. Special mentions to Isaac who was exceptional behind the stumps and Patrick who hoovered up many a ball in the field.
Lewis and Patrick opened the batting and looked settled until Lewis was unfortunately bowled in the fourth over. Ben came to the crease and delivered a composed innings, though was lucky not to be caught and bowled. Patrick lost his wicket in the 9th over after his run-rate slowed, having scored 9 runs, but with Barrow on 44-2 they had the required run rate and wickets in hand. Yusef was then caught out for 5, bringing Layla to the crease, at which point Ben cut-loose before retiring 31 not-out off 28 balls having scored four 4s and a six. Crucially his final boundary took Barrow past their target of 75 to secure the win. Barrow continued to bat for their 20 overs providing some important batting practice with Layla scoring 12, Elliot 6, Luke losing his wicket for a duck, and Leo and Isaac finishing off the match on scores of 9 and 11 not out respectively.

Barrow finished on 118/6 after twenty overs to beat Lymm who scored 74/7. Hopefully the team can take the confidence from this game into their next, focus on playing for and supporting each other, and play to their strengths.