Bangor are Up and Running in Section One

Bangor welcomed Armagh Cricket Club to Upritchard Park last Saturday for their most recent league fixture in Section One. Bangor won the toss and elected to field first, aiming to get off to a fast start with some early wickets. 

Bangor would do just that, as veteran David Kennedy with a strong prevailing wind at his back would have Wilson caught behind as Bangor got off to a dream start. This brought the overseas professional Strydom to the crease for Armagh, no doubt looking to cash in on what looked to be a great deck at UP. Unfortunately for Strydom this was not to be, as Kennedy delivered a stunning, in-swinging delivery to dismiss the professional with his very first ball and Bangor were rampant. 

This wicket brought Wright to the crease, with a tense battle between bat and ball ensuing, as Kennedy continued to ask questions and Chris Walton bowled commendably at the other end into a harsh breeze. ”The Coventry Express” Josh Bates was introduced into the attack and with his typical cricket-loving exuberance appealed for everything that went near the bat. However, no appeal would be required as Wright was bamboozled by a Bates delivery which knocked the bails off of middle stump, halting the possible signs of a strong Armagh partnership developing. Armagh were now 33 for 3 and Bangor believed. Steenson would become Kennedy’s 3rd wicket and Armagh’s second duck of the innings, shortly after as Armagh crawled to 38-4. 

The next few overs were characterised by the tight bowling of Kuda Samunderu. His hard work was rewarded in the 16th over as the steadfast opener Rodgers edged one behind to the expert gloves of McCusker. With Rodgers removed for 36 Bangor were now in firm control and looked to make inroads into the tail with Armagh reeling at 67 for 5. Two overs later, Doyle would be removed by Samunderu after a strong catch from Chris Walton on the boundary bringing the score to 74 for 6 and providing Samunderu with his second of the day. 

The Armagh batsmen, Whitcroft and Freshwater, fought hard for the next few overs scraping together a partnership which brought the Armagh total to 103, until Ben Escott had Whitcroft clean bowled to halt the rebuild. Chris Walton, bowling with a change of ends and a reinvigorated spirit would bring another challenge to the Armagh innings. Mackey launched a booming drive towards Walton, who cooly palmed the ball into the stumps at the non-striker’s end as Freshwater’s bat remained in the air. The umpire’s finger went up, much to the delight of the Armagh faithful who fully accepted the decision. 

Armagh skipper McCarter then arrived at the crease and was swiftly trapped LBW by Walton’s Starc-like in-swinger and departed without troubling the scorers. Jamie Sceates-Veale then came into the attack and orchestrated an expertly taken wicket. He allowed Mackey to hit him for consecutive sixes, lulling him into a false sense of security, before fooling him into skying one into the hands of skipper Jonny Parker, leaving Armagh all out for 134 after what was a dominant Bangor bowling performance filled with style, aggression and panache. 

Bangor came out with a revised DLS total of 132 off of 47 overs and Keenan and Parker strode out confidently to the crease. Disaster struck early as Parker was dismissed off the bowling of Mackey as Bangor were 6 for 1. This wicket brought Kuda Samunderu to the crease who brought great impetus to the innings with early fours and strong running between the wickets. Soon after the rain came on again and Bangor were forced to entertain themselves with some one hand one bounce in the changing rooms. Fortunately, the rain relented and the Bangor innings was back underway chasing 113 off of 37 overs. 

What happened next was vintage Bangor. Aided by Keenan who fought valiantly to take the laquer off of the new ball. Samunderu launched a tirade of brutal power hitting on the Armagh attack. Highlights included a square cut for six and multiple cover drives going for four and six, on a day where Armagh had no response to such measured aggression. 
Upritchard park was exultant as the Bangor batsmen continued the assault. Samunderu finished the innings in typical fashion blasting two consecutive sixes off the bowling of Whitcroft and Bangor were declared the victors. Special mention must go to Jonny Keenan, who was dogged in supporting Samunderu at the other end.

Bangor were the winners of the day with the squad travelling to Saintfield the next weekend, looking to continue the good work begun this past weekend. Vouloir, c’est pouvoir – Bangor believes.