Great start for both Bare teams to 2017

Bare 'A' started well on Saturday with an 8 wicket victory at home to Kirkby Lonsdale. Bare bowled KL out for 106 and only lost 2 wickets in reply. On Sunday, the 1st XI went the great distance across Cross Hill Park to play Westgate 'A', a fixture that in history, Bare seem to lose. Westgate 'A' won the to and elected to bat in cooling conditions! Hard graft from the Westgate openers got them off to a steady but good start. Oz with a tight 12 over spell was economical but fruitless in his tireless search for a breakthrough, eagerly assisted by West Brom/Burton. S.Frith (20) was good at despatching the rare bad ball but came unstuck when the masterstroke change of bowling paid off instantly with turn from Bare's new dad. Carter (22) and Webster picked up the pace but Westgate 'A's' openers both falling bowled by Bhardwaj (3-35). Webster then went on to punish 2 dropped catches and take the score to 103-2 and himself to a fine 51. Bare's other first change bowler seemingly not having much luck, but the chef removed Webster but Westgate 'A' looked in the ascendency at 113-3 with 12 overs to go. Searching for a 150-160, aided with some comical fielding from one illegal immigrant, mis-fielding then throwing the ball for 4 on the tree, Cook went through a devastating spell of bowling removing the middle order and getting 5 wickets for his efforts for 22 runs. The last pair put up some stubborn resilience but the last ball from Albon (1-23) saw 7 Westgate 'A' batsmen out bowled and a tough 124 on the board for Bare to chase.
After a lovely tea, Oz and captain Smith got Bare off to a similar start to the opposition with 2 fine opening spells form young Vaughan and Conroy. At 24-0 off 15, Bare needed to up the pace and with the Westgate 'A' forced into a double change, Bare's openers raced to a 50 opening partnership, the love relationship must be back on! It was the introduction of D.Hannigan that forced Smith (21) into his first false shot but Bhardwaj (18) came in and played a sensible innings playing the bad ball well. Oz (45) looked to be nearing his half centaury with a super knock but D.Hannigan (4-36) had other ideas as wickets started to tumble and a Bare collapse looked inevitable. Up stepped debutant Tin Tin (J.Eddon) and Schwaddywaddy (T.Schad) to steady the ship and play sensible knocks to take Bare to 15 points with 14 not outs each with 3.3 overs to spare. A great team effort and a well fort contest that has got Bare off to a good start. Holme away next week and BLS in the cup on Sunday, we will see what next week will bring.