The picturesque Cartmel was the venue for todays match with Division 2 cup winners trying to finish with a flourish with Bare sat 4 points behind 2nd place Shireshead 2s. After some rain during the week, part of the boundary was brought in and after Nev lost the toss on a drying wicket, Bare worried for there lives! Cooper bowled good line and length and broke through early aided well in a tight opening spells from the Cartmel openers. Bailey then took a good return catch but the ship was steadied with the slowness and low bounce of the wicket. Bacon Butty (22) eventually getting run out backing up just before drinks. Bare were 51-3 off 23 overs and needed to accelerate to post a competitive total of around 130. Bhardwaj (32) and Smith (13) paired well but Bailey (3-28) removed the pair within quick succession with a smart catch behind from Mr Williams. Anderson (1-10) then got in on the act which led to the experienced pair of Sharman (12) and Kendal (27) to put on a good little partnership. Cooper (3-27) removed both but last over heroics from captain Nev (16) saw Bare get a respectable 149-9 with Nev getting run out unselfishly by Burton on the last ball of the innings.
After a great tea including the highlights of Guinness cake and brownies the Cartmel reply started exactly the same way with accurate opening spells from the Bare opening pair. Bultler taking a good catch and Oz (2-20) with his usual old swingers doing the damage. Holmes (14) offering the resilience and when Cook took a wicket before drinks, Cartmel were 54-3 off 23 (3 runs ahead of Bare at the same stage). Weir (12) had some lusty blows but succumbed to White (2-15) with his usual metronome 12 over spell of accuracy. At 79-4 the game was in the balance but with a nasty injury to David Unsworth whilst fielding (hope his shoulder isn't to knackered), Carmel were looking to experienced heads to accelerate towards the total. With Opener Hadwin proving to be a brick wall Cook (5-27) then went on the rampage cleaning up the middle order with some grubbers and cutters to bowl Carmel out for 88 and talking the full 15 points. That puts Bare 11 points clear of Shireshead 2s with Bare entertaining Westgate 'A' in the final game of the season. Get yourself down and have a laugh at our expense! A good game played again in the right spirit. Thanks again to Frithy for your awesomeness and to Zac for scoring. Also well done to Bare 2nds for ending the season on a high finishing mid table in Div 4 with a comfortable 180ish run win against Kirkby Lonsdale 'A.' Right better do my bit for World peace now :-)