THRILLING GAME SEES LOCAL DERBY SPOILS SHARED

A thrilling derby encounter saw a game that ebbed and flowed and despite a losing draw for the hosts, it was Bar who arguably deserved better from the day.

Winning the toss and batting first on a good pitch, Steve Gale looked in imperious form as Bar set about putting on a decent total. He and new opening partner Harrison Palmer eased to a 50 partnership in good time as the visitors fielding was a little sloppy.

Steve Gale completed his first Bar league fifty of the season in 65 balls but soon lost Harrison Palmer as the latter was stranded mid-pitch and was run out by Josh Crook for 12. Bar skipper James Scott came in and Bar upped the ante as the pair took advantage of the poor fielding and a short boundary.

With lunch on the horizon, Bar lost the key wicket of Steve Gale for 85 as he holed out to deep square when a 100 looked a dead cert. However Bar were in a strong position at the break sat 149 for 2 with 24 overs left of their 60 overs allocation.

However after lunch the Mymms bowling was excellent, their fielding improved and Bar never took advantage of their position. They lost 7 wickets post lunch for 70 with James Scott 49 and Zawar Hussain 35 the only main contributors. It took 11 off the final over from Callum Baylis to get the total to 240 for 9 from the 60 overs.

For the visitors DJ Jhala took 4'for 37 and Kent spinner Imran Qayyum took 3 for 89 and was the receipient of some average fielding pre lunch.

So the visitors needed 241 to win in 55 overs and started as if they had their tea on the table. Hamza Qayyum struck 6 fours and a six inside the first 4 overs but Mymms old boy Jigar Mehta snicked Hamza Ahmed off for 4 and then Hamza Qayyum top edged to slip where Zawar Hussain held a real old fashioned Gary Owen.

44 for 2 saw Nesan Jeyaratnam joined at the cease by Steve Snell and the pair put on 50 in 57 balls as Mymms looked in good touch. Steve Snell is one of the divisions top batters and it showed as he took the attack to Bar and for a while the game swung I n favour of the away side.

Luke Chapman had other ideas as he found the edge of Nesan Jeyaratnam's bat for 25 and two balls later Andy Lewis was adjudged leg before for 0 right on the cusp of tea. Mymms went into tea at 102 for 4 needing another 139 to win in 34 overs with Steve Snell well set and the main hope.

Bar kept toiling away and Richard Soulsby was caught at bat pad for 5 and when Imran Qayyum was bowled by Thilan Walallawita for 0 saw Bar in total control and set for a win at 112 for 6.

For Mymms, Steve Snell powered on and he found good support from Jhala and Rhys Wynne as the 7th wicket put on 28 and the 8th wicket 53 as the drizzle started to fall. Jigar Mehta came back and bowled Snell for an excellent 91 from 100 balls and then bowled Wynne for a stout 27 to leave the visitors 206 for 9 with 10 overs to survive.

As much as Bar tried, Mymms got in behind it and survived and finished 225 for 9 and gained a winning draw (target was 221) and a share of the spoils. For Bar, they deserved more but this was a thrilling game, played between two decent sides on a good pitch in a decent spirit. It was Premier League cricket at its best and both can take good things from the game.

Next week Bar travel to surprise league leaders West Herts.