Twos hang on for vital point

The 2s undertook the long trek to the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground looking to steal some much needed points in the August drizzle. Prospects of [play looked bleak on arrival, but after an hour and a half of cleaning up from the Barrow lads, the pitch was fit for a 35 over contest.

Wellers won the toss, and opted to make use of the visitors stronger suit by bowling first at the league leaders. Phil Sparrow opened up from the Hospital end and bowled with excellent control and extracting movement of the seam, while young Steven Armstrong impressed from the Abbey Road end. After picking up opener Penny Cheaply, Barrow skipper Ian Allington (26) rebuilded patiently with keeper Tom Milligan (29)and put Barrow in a strong position. Spadge did, however, make important inroads, supported by the in-form Tom Williamson, who replaced stretch. Sparrow finished with 4-56 from his 18 over slog, while Twilly claimed a 2 for. Barrow reached a surmountable 112-7 from their 35.

Optimistic after the break, Lancaster got off to a poor start losing early wickets. Barrow bowled well and put a stranglehold on the scoring rate. Top 2nd division bowler, off spinner Patrick Allington worked his way through the batting order taking an impressive 5-31 well supported by thr Barrow seamers who nibbled the ball around. Only Billy Swarbrick offered any sort of meaningful resistance to make 25. Wickets continued to tumble from the other end, and the total was now way out of reach. It was left to the youth of Steven Armstrong and Callum East to deny Barrow their 15 points by doggedly defending out to the last over under the now blue skies.

Not a bad result against the league leaders, but knowing their potential, a better batting performance is in order to haul themselves off the bottom.