Every match is a Saturday afternoon of celebration in the 3s and this one on May 28th was no exception. We celebrated the first time that the team got more than 200 runs, the first time one of our batters got into he 90s, the first time a junior took 3 wickets in an innings (and on debut), the first time a woman played in a senior Barrow side, the first dad/daughter pairing and also another dad/son pairing. It just gets better every week.

Wirral batted first and bludgeoned their way to 251 for 8 (all out, as they were short). On the face of it that would seem a pretty depressing afternoon for us, but far from it. Early on, Noah made a breakthrough and later would take another. He bowled really well and is starting to make some significant progress in the senior side. Alen was as miserly as ever at the other end from his 10 overs (only 24 conceded) and then it was Phil Noble’s turn. Phil bamboozled the Wirral middle order, finishing with 3 wickets, before handing over the baton to debutant and junior spinner, Alex Manley. Alex, who at the end of the match ran off into the sunset with the match ball, having taken 3 wickets and finished the innings with two wickets off the final two balls. We need to remember the first ball of his next spell is a ‘hat-trick’ ball. This spell is a lesson in confidence. He took some hammer in the first couple of overs but was not deterred. He believed in himself and that is a key message for the juniors stepping up to senior cricket. Imran Mir bowled some great deliveries in his first match for the 3s and later the skipper’s daughter, Ava Rogers, became the first Barrow woman to bowl in a senior match. Lots of firsts, with more to come.

252 to win was always going to be tough but we didn’t expect the growing Dodleston crowd to still be cheering us on with 3 overs to go! Phil and another 3s debutant and club stalwart Dave Woods got us off to a great start, with Dave pulling his way to a rapid 31 (that’s not his only shot but definitely one of his favourites!). An enjoyable knock to watch and hopefully the first of many for us. Ed Tweedie, another debutant unfortunately fell quickly but that then bought dad Ron to the crease. After a good innings last week, Chris Morrison identified Ron as one to watch in the Barrow Fantasy Cricket League and he was spot on. Ron and Phil put a huge partnership together, broken only when Phil was caught and bowled for a valiant 59. As Phil went for a lie down a couple more wickets fell leaving Tim and Ron to grab some quick runs before Ron fell for a superb 95. It was a fantastic innings and one that none of us will forget for a long time. Make it three figures next time please Ron! It nearly got us over the line but not quite. Ava came in to face a few balls at the end with dad Tim (one of those moments…) and that was it. We lost, but we count this as a win. Thanks to Alex’s dad Phil for scoring. He’ll be playing soon as well.

Unfortunately, Cholmondeley have conceded the June 4 game, so we all look forward to our next one, a week later.

Champagne moments: Ron’s superb 95, Alex’s 3 wickets on debut, Phil’s all-round performance and Ava becoming the first woman to play for a Barrow senior team...and lots more.