Smith brothers steer the Bare ship to success

After a good victory last week at Westgate, Bare turned up at Holme looking for another victory on the road. Captain Smith won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny afternoon and a decent track. Holme got off to a good start with a wicket in the first over from Hunter (2-55). Bhadwaj (25) came in to steady the ship with snail Smith and after 10 overs were 40-1. A mixed start but with controlled bowling from Holme, Eddon (22) dug in to build a partnership but was removed just after drinks by Varden (1-42). Shippard (1-19) then had a tidy spell leaving Bare at 79-4 with18 overs to go. Barry Smith and Frank Smith used the pace of the ball and outfield to good effect rotating the strike and punishing the bad ball. Caribbean Frank then hit his half century with 5 overs to go promoting a possible drugs test from the ECB, especially when he hit his 2nd 6 in 20 years of cricket! Bare finished well with brother Frank finishing on 65 not out and Barry 1 short of his half century, unbeaten, but putting on 106 for the 5th wicket and posting 185/4.
Great teas from the Holme ladies followed a good opening stand for the Holme openers. Tight lines from the Bare opening pair seemed to be unfruitful until Albon (2-12) removed Cotton for 13 then one of 2 sharp catches from Nev behind scuppered the Holme charge. Duckett (27) and Halhead (25) took Holme to the 60s until the first change bowler Cook had the other opener removed caught behind before Bhardwaj (2-18) and Cook got caught and bowled wickets to start the Holme collapse. Cook getting his second 5 wicket hall in 2 games with assistance from neat catches from Albon and Sharman. Teasdale (31 not out) then put up stubborn resistance with some lusty blows until Osmotherly (1-22) removed the last wicket after mixed catching efforts. Another solid all round performance from Bare gives them 30 points from the possible 30 so far. Tomorrow is the Hackney & Leigh tie against BLS of Div 1 before the visit of Ambleside next week in Bare's first home league game. Up the Naked CC!