It was a low-scoring thriller in front of the camera at Mill Lane as skipper Jake Gillett led from the front with ball and then bat as the Firsts dismissed near neighbours Barrow for 47.

With the early season wer weather meaning that wicket preparation time for groundstaff everywhere has been at a minimum it has been even less so on the flood plane of the River Soar.

The fact that a game was on at all is testament to the commitment of the Sileby groundstaff as there was standing water only a few days earlier and therefore the kiss the top medium pace of the skipper was a perfect method allowing the ball and the pitch to do the work.

Gillett's 6-32 ripped the heart out of the Barrow order with 17 of those 32 conceded coming in wides. The skipper was about supported by Harry Bates (1-10) with the new ball and Ryan Dawson (2-5) once Bates' initial spell at the Mill Lane end had concluded.

The free-scoring strokeplay would need to be replaced with more caution, despite the low total.in their sights.

The early losses of Greg Willows (0), Ajay Khunti (9) and Scott Steel (6), with Willows and Steel both chopping on and causing the newly installed zing bails and stumps to light up, before 20 had been breached gave the visitors hope as Anil Nai (4-16) threatened to do what Gillett had done earlier in the piece.

A further three wickets went down before 30 had been passed with nerves jangling around Mill Lane as a second home reverse chasing low scores in two attempts looked perilously close.

Gillett (10*) wasn't one, however, for letting his earlier toil go to waste. The left-hander, held down the order following his exploits with the ball, saw his side home alongside wicketkeeper Josh Winterton (5*) and a welcome 25 points.

You can view the highlights of the run chase on our YouTube channel