SECONDS LOSE A CLOSE ONE

Despite missing skipper Nathan Swift, his deputy Stephen Walters took last years third place finishers, Houghton Main, down to the wire before coming up just short.

Batting first Barnsley lost Sheryaar Ali for 6 and Boeta Beukes for 8, to leave them 37 for 2. When Freddie Chapman departed for 27 and Stephen Walters for 6, the score was 79 for 5. Partnerships remained hard to come by with Bilal Imtiaz for 8 and William Nicholson, 17, also failing to go big. Owen Smith continued his good start to the season with 24 but an eighth wicket partnership of 56 between Jordan Slattery and Matthew Clayton started to give the home side a defendable total. They were out for 30 and 38 respectively and helped Barnsley post 193 for 9 from their allotted overs.

Houghton Main lost an early wicket but looked to be cruising at 101 for 1. Spinners Boeta Beukes and William Nicholson helped to turn the screw as the away side reached 152 for 6, Nicholson claiming 4 wickets. Another mini collapse at the end of the innings didn’t stop them reaching their target in the last over nine wickets down.