Barker Cricket - 2018 Tour of Sri Lanka: Day 7 - Game 3 vs Kandy Cricket Academy (Win No. 2)

The runs just keep coming....

No, it's not what you think.
No one has been drinking the water.
But the Barker boys are on FIRE!!!

Our second morning at the Amaya Hills Hotel dawned overcast and with a very slight misty rain. Fortunately, the clouds soon lifted and the boys started to prepare for our third game of the tour against a combined Kandy Academy team. Unfortunately, coach Toth’s man flu had reached its zenith overnight and he was forced to retire to a day by the pool with a mocktail - coaches Thomlinson and Merven were left to provide the wisdom and insight to which the boys were so accustomed to hearing from the bedridden Mr Toth. Egg hoppers and donuts were consumed in abundance at breakfast as tourists Breden and Veivers loaded up in anticipation of a day off.

Alex still "buttered" on not being able to celebrate his ton in style.

The Kandy University grounds.

Dr. Merven showing he's more than just the team physician.

A short shuttle bus ride brought us to the Peradineya University on the outskirts of Kandy. The ground was in tremendous condition and skipper for the day, Dan was only too happy to win the toss and choose to bat. 418 runs later, it was safe to say he had chosen well. Openers Angus and Jenson heaped on 169 runs for the first wicket at better than 8 an over and dispatched the bowling to all parts of the ground. Jensen was first out for a speedy 72 with 9 fours. Gus followed shortly after for an excellent 89 including 13 fours and 2 sixes. Both boys were confusingly accused by their teammates of “ton evading”...whatever that means. Captain Dan joined Campbell at the crease and the runs continued to flow.

Campbell swinging for the rafters.

Max looking the goods batting at 5.

It's all fun and games when you're being rested under the "Reds Rotation Policy"

The rotation policy was also in force for the batters in the bid to break 400.

Campbell is currently the record holder for most displaced belongings on tour, but he luckily had not lost the ability to bat and he compiled a solid 40. At the other end, Dan holed out with a half century in sight for 42. Max came and went for 8 after getting a ball that ducked back in and struck him in front. Meanwhile, Ryan employed his long levers to good effect and smashed 54 from about 18 balls before retiring to allow some of the lower order batsmen a hit. Justus (40) and Connor on (16) carried on with the lusty hitting, capably assisted by Oscar and Ben S. The carnage ended with the Reds posting 9/418 from their allotted 45 overs and travelling headmaster Thomlinson was supremely confident of victory.

A now traditional chicken and rice lunch was followed by Ben S and Oscar opening up with the ball. Oscar found success quickly with a juggling catch at backward point by Campbell to claim the first wicket. A reasonable partnership followed and the score rattled along quickly. Furthermore, the tourists now customary nemesis “wides” was once again doing enormous damage on the scoreboard. The introduction of young Sammy to the attack proved to be the circuit breaker as two wickets tumbled quickly. Chayton also chipped in with a caught behind and Barker was now firmly in front.

Ben S sending down a thunderbolt.

The innings meandered thereafter with the occasional wicket punctuating the steady batting of the opposition. Connor chipped in with 3/15 and Dan coaxed an edge to Justus behind the stumps as well - Justus was superb with the gloves and snared no less than 5 catches (a Barker tour record). In the end, Kandy Academy were dismissed for 168 with wides top scoring with a neatly constructed 48. Coach Thomlinson was heard to remark afterwards (quoting Meatloaf) “two outta three ain’t bad”.