Netherfield 130-2

Barrow 129-7

Netherfield won by eight wickets

Chorley Building Society Northern Premier League

NETHERFIELD put league leaders Barrow to the sword thanks to an unbeaten 59 from wicketkeeper John Huck.

Barrow were asked to bat first after the Parkside Road outfit won the toss and in the second over the in-form Nathan Chambers gleaned some joy by clean-bowling Sam Dutton to leave the visitors 3-1.

But the introduction of Ryan Brown saw Barrow put on a 52-run partnership between the new batter and pro Jon Wells, who looked a class act at the crease.

The pair chipped away with singles and the occasional boundary until the 18th over, when Brad Airey produced a superb piece of fielding to prevent Brown from getting any runs. With the number three man well out of his crease, Airey showed how alert he was with a great throw to Huck, who ran out Brown for 21, leaving the visitors 55-2 in the 18th over.

Four overs later and Netherfield skipper Marc Brown took a good catch in the covers off Field pro Ackermann, who was 3-27 off his 17 overs in a great bowling performance, to dismiss Nicky Burns and leave Barrow 59-3.

The crucial wicket of Wells was taken in the 27th over as Ackermann took his catch at point off Airey, with the Barrow pro out on 38.

The wickets began to tumble when Dean Williams was caught by Chambers for three off Airey in the 31st over, and next over Rhys Studt followed him out of the crease when he was clean bowled by Ackermann to leave Barrow wobbling at 78-6.

From then on Barrow tried batting for the duration of their 50 overs to make sure Netherfield were not given extra time to chase a target that wasn’t looking like it would be too high, and it was in the 41st over when captain Daryl Wearing was caught near the boundary by Craig Walmsley off Ackermann for 10, with Barrow 96-7.

Reynolds continued for an unbeaten 34 and Tom Milligan was 11 not out as Netherfield failed to collect all 10 wickets, but with the visitors posting 129-7, Field were in the driving seat for victory.

Proceedings didn’t start very well for the home side though when Walmsley was harshly adjudged LBW off Wells in the second over, leaving Netherfield 5-1, despite him looking far too forward for an LBW decision to be given.

Barrow showed an aggressive bowling attack and field to put the pressure on the home side, and Ackermann had another poor spell at the crease when he was caught and bowled by Nicky Burns for 15 after he skied a poor ball from the bowler, leaving Field 38-2 in the 13th over.

But from that point opener Ben Barrow and wicketkeeper Huck put on an unbeaten partnership of 92 to take the game away from the league leaders.

Barrow struck seven fours on his way to 51 not out, while Huck was sensational by knocking the visitors for six fours and four maximums on his way to 59 not out off just 43 balls.

It meant the game was wrapped up just before drinks arrived in the 25th over, and Netherfield inflicted the first league defeat of the season for Barrow which nevertheless still leaves them 27 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier League.