Mark Brown's century helped Barrow Gurney Firsts grab a much needed victory after beating Chilcompton Sports by 181 runs in Bristol & District's Fourth Division last Saturday.

After losing both openers cheaply, Brown and Josh Yelland began to dominate the visitors’ bowling attack scoring at way more than a run a ball at Hobbs Lane.

Both cleared the boundaries seven times and when Yelland fell eight short of a maiden century for Barrow, the partnership had reached 223. 

Brown fell shortly after for 158, off 105 balls with 21 fours and seven sixes, but Jonny Sykes (42 not out off 19 balls) ensured that there was no respite for the Chilcompton bowlers as Barrow posted 331-6 off their 40 overs.

A great opening spell from Ed Holdway (2-22), and two early, if expensive, wickets for Jonny Sykes (2-41) soon had Chilcompton 61-4, before Frank Forge and Nick Heal bowled their off spin of contrasting styles to put the pressure on the middle order. 

Although runs began to come, wickets fell at regular intervals as batsmen felt the need to force the pace. Ben Hodges took a couple of stumpings as the spinners took three wickets apiece (Heal 3-39, Forge 3-47) to bowl out the visitors for 150 and a maximum points win.