WINNING STREAK CONTINUES

The thirds went in search of four straight league victories for the first time in 5 years on Saturday as they hosted Handsworth at Woolley.
After winning the toss, Goughy decided to bowl first. However it wasn’t the start that he would’ve wanted, with the visitors getting off to a steady start at 32-0. Handsworth’s two openers looked set and were given a second chance with a dropped catch off the bowling of Callum Bentley, however the very next ball saw a run out from Goughy to break the partnership (with a very questionable and fineable knee slide in celebration). The second wicket fell not much long after the first, with the ever reliant Tom Butcher running his fingers over the ball to dismiss Handsworth’s other opening batsman caught at mid wicket comfortably, 42-2. There was a third wicket stand of 77 for Handsworth as they moved onto 119-2 until Waqas Ali was dismissed with a superb catch from Goughy off the bowling of Mo Kousar. Mo bagged his second Barnsley wicket less than 10 runs later, bowling the Handsworth batsman leaving them at 127-4. A tight spell from Anthony Godley saw him return figures of 1-25 from 7 overs of fine Leg spin and the return of opening bowler Callum Bailey saw him pick up 3 quick wickets towards the end of the innings as Handsworth finished with 200-8 from their 46 overs.

In reply, the thirds started well with an opening partnership of 45 between Freddie Chapman and Goughy, with the latter the first to fall for 21. That soon became 56-2 when Bilal Imtiaz was bowled for just 10. Freddie Chapman was next to fall for 32, leaving the thirds struggling at 79-3 and that soon became 84-4 when William Chapman fell for just 13. The thirds looked like they were going to come up short of their target chasing 200. However, a fifth wicket partnership of 67 between Anthony Godley and Mo Kousar brought us right back into contention. It was 87 to win from 12 overs and this was where the game really swung into Barnsley’s favour, with Anthony Godley taking Saeed Anees to the cleaners with 22 from the over. Anthony fell not long after however falling 4 runs short of a maiden half century for the club. Callum Bailey (8) and Mo Kousar (25) also fell not long after leaving the thirds 172-7. It was 29 to win from the final 4 overs, with Callum Bentley and Tom Butcher at the crease. Bentley fired 6 fours in his innings of 31 not out from just 16 balls, taking us so close to the finish line 199-7. Then, remarkably to keep up the crazy stat of winning games with a six, Tom Butcher smashed the third ball of the 45th over for six to win the game with 9 balls to spare.

Another 12 points for Goughy’s men as they keep this incredible run going. They now look ahead to next week, and while it’s still early days, the thirds are now within touching distance of the top 2 in the league standings.