Barr looks to finish season with a flourish

Ben Steele • Published 13 Aug 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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READING skipper David Barr is hoping to see his team put in a complete performance in their remaining four games.

The Sonning Lane outfit had to dig deep and show all their battling qualities to come out on top against Two West strugglers Thame Town on Saturday.

Luke Beaven was the star of the show for Reading, following up three wickets with the ball with a match-winning 31no to guide his side home.

And while Barr hailed the efforts of the 19-year-old, he admitted he is eager to see the whole side take responsibility for a win before the season climaxes in a month's time.

He explained: "I'm still looking for that really good team performance over the last few games - we haven't really managed one yet.

"The matches we have won have often been a case of one or two players having a good day.

"We go to Basingstoke on Saturday and we might need to produce it there because they are improving all the time.

"They have beaten us twice already this season, in the league and the cup, when we were struggling with our bowlers, so they will be confident.

"But we are obviously keen to turn it around and get a few more points on the table."

Last Saturday's clash at Sonning Lane turned into an attritional affair after the pitch was affected by the recent poor weather.

Having bowled out their visitors for 127 in 56 overs, Reading put together a patient chase, eventually scraping home on 128-7, also from 56 overs.

And Barr admitted it was not the sort of game seen often these days: "The recent heavy rain meant that some water got under the covers, and groundsman Robin Dorrington had to put in a lot of work just to get the game on."

"But it meant that it was a bit like going back to the days of uncovered pitches and it was a real test of technique and temperament.

"We scraped by and got the win, which was obviously pleasing, but I think the guys knew that we had contributed a bit to our own struggles."

Barr won a vital toss and put Thame in - and it was a crucial decision as the visitors took eight overs to score the first runs off the bat, by which time both openers were back in the hutch.

Michael Beard (34) and Sam Lachlan (35) then scraped together a partnership of 44 for the third wicket, before spin twins Beaven and David Hartley took over.

They picked up seven of the remaining eight wickets to dismiss Thame for 127, Hartley finishing with 4-45 and Beaven 3-38.

On a still tricky pitch, the Reading top five all made double figures without going on and at 87-7 the game was still in the balance when Barr was joined in the middle by Beaven.

Jaydeep Bhatti (4-21) was the main Thame dangerman, and while Barr patiently neutralised his threat with 9no from 71 balls, Beaven (31no off 61) kept the scoreboard going at the other end.

And it proved enough to get the hosts home, an unbroken stand of 41 edging Reading to the win on 128-7.

Barr added: "Our two spinners both bowled well to pick up seven of the wickets and it looked as though we might even restrict them to fewer than 127.

"We knew even that was not going to be easy, and their left arm spinner was a very difficult man to face.

"We struggled to about 80-7, but then Luke rounded off a really good match by getting most of the rest of the runs.

"It was a bit easier for a left handed batter to deal with the ball spinning into you, so it was a case of me trying to blunt his threat.

"But Luke did really well at the other end, got the bad ball away nicely and we managed to get the win."

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