Bangor Cruelly Miss Out on Top 6 but back it up with Convincing Win

Lurgan vs Bangor – 03/08/23

Bangor travelled to Lurgan in what was originally a two-night game, turned into just a one-night T20 due to the ground being deemed unsafe by the umpires the day before in Lurgan. Victory for Bangor would ensure their place in the ‘Top 6’ ahead of the Section 2 league split for August & September but anything else would open the door for BISC to leapfrog them into 6^th place.

Bangor batted first in soft, damp conditions and the visitors struggled to adapt to the conditions and regularly lost wickets and were in big trouble at 31-6 in the 9^th over with only Sam McMillan reaching double figures. Will Simpson joined Patrick McMillan in the middle and a herculean effort was needed to get Bangor to a score that they could defend with.

They both batted diligently and with 5 overs to go they managed to navigate Bangor to 51-6 with the crafty spinners of Stafford & Nazzari finished, there was a glimmer of opportunity for the two batters to score big in the last handful of overs. The next three overs yielded a mammoth 43 runs as McMillan and especially Simpson found the boundary regularly as Lurgan struggled to contain them. McMillan fell in the final over for a well-made 28 off 33 balls while Simpson remained unbeaten scoring 36 off 35 balls, a quite brilliant effort considering the situation and the difficulty of conditions. Bangor ended up on 101-7 after their 20 overs which was certainly a par score.

Bangor started brightly as Chris Pyper made the early breakthrough of Hunter but then the two nemesis of Bangor from their Junior Cup defeat Johnston & Chambers came together. Bangor again struggled to dismiss either man as they manoeuvred the ball around knowing how to play the conditions. The score was 60-1 at the halfway stage and Bangor desperately needed a wicket and the stand in skipper on the day Patrick McMillan threw the ball to Pyper. With his second delivery he bowled Johnston and Bangor had a way back into the game. The runs began to dry up as Bangor wrestled back control of the game as Pyper began his final over in the 13^th over and the young enigmatic speedster delivered with his final delivery dismissing Chambers with Lurgan still needing another 30 runs. 

A very tight game ensued with Bangor believing a famous win was now on the cards as the run rate steadily climbed. Simpson bowled the 16^th over and dismissed Harrison as he ended with a wicket maiden 1-11 from his 4 overs, a man of the match display from the all-rounder. The experienced Grieve and his luminous orange shoes in the darkening evening in Lurgan was navigating the home side closer to the target and together with Fortuin they picked up 18 runs in the next 3 overs which left the home side needing 5 runs to win from the final over, advantage Lurgan. 

The craftiness of George Prince was called upon to bowl the final over with Bangor needing something remarkable to pick up those all-important 4 points. The first ball certainly went Bangor’s way as Samunderu athletically ran out Grieve and Bangor believed once again, 5 from 5 required. Two singles were picked up in the following 3 balls and with the penultimate ball, the home side scampered a 2 and the scores were level, Bangor couldn’t win. The field came in to prevent the single to secure a tie as Fortuin slapped the ball to Pyper at mid-on who raced round and threw the ball in the direction of the non-striker’s end were Prince caught the ball and whipped the bails off just in time. The umpire raised his finger and Bangor had managed to secure a thrilling tie despite being up against it multiple times during the game. 

Unfortunately, news began to filter through of BISC claiming an all-important victory at Holywood at the same time and they leapfrogged Bangor into the ‘Top 6’ on the final day of action before the split. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the side who have maintained their position in the ‘Top 6’ for the whole season to date only to be pipped at the post despite only losing twice. The unseasonable weather this Summer did Bangor no favours with 3 of their games being voided and no points awarded, ultimately costing Bangor in the end. 

Bangor 101-7 (20 overs, P McMillan 28, W Simpson 36*, P Stafford 3-10)
Lurgan 101-6 (20 overs, S Johnston 30, S Chambers 29, C Pyper 3-17)
Lurgan tied with Bangor

Bangor vs Victoria – 03/08/23

Bangor’s first opponents post league split were Victoria and despite Storm Antoni’s best efforts, Upritchard Park held up remarkably well yet again. Play albeit delayed got underway at 2.30pm in a 30 over contest under sunny skies with a large crowd gathered on the balcony to take in the action post their corporate lunch for our sponsors and supporters.

It was George Prince who made the first breakthrough as he got one to move away where Kuda Samunderu took a smart catch at slip. Michael Skelly thought he’d try something similar in the next over and he too found the edge of the bat where Prince took the catch to his right at slip. Two more bowled wickets one apiece to Skelly and Prince put the visitors on the back foot with the score 26-4 after 8 overs.

A brief spell of calm came over the visitors as they regained their composure with the next 6 overs navigated but the score was only on 37. Andrew Gowdy then picked up his only wicket on the day as his deception in the air bowled Gilpin and the wickets began to tumble again as Will Simpson continued his excellent form picking up two wickets in his first over with the score on 42-7 after 16 overs and Victoria in a spot of bother. The visitors’ tail tried to navigate the tricky spell but unfortunately for them the scoreboard never recovered as Simpson picked up another 2 wickets and was oh so close to his 1st First Eleven fiver before Samunderu finished the visitors off with a wicket in his second over and Victoria were all out in the 25^th over for 61. 

Openers Sam McMillan & Andrew Kirkpatrick came out to bat looking to finish off the match quickly and in style. The two batters who have been in great form all season pounced on anything loose from Victoria and chased down the target of 62 with ease in the 8^th over in a chanceless opening partnership and Bangor won by 10 Wickets. A dominant win for Bangor who certainly went out with a point to prove to the rest of the league that although they can only finish no higher than 7^th place in the league, they certainly aren’t the 7^th best team in the league.

The side are back in action at neighbours Ards & Donaghadee on Saturday with the game played at the picturesque Northfield ground and all support is welcome for the local derby game.

Victoria 61 (25 overs, M Skelly 2-12, G Prince 2-9, W Simpson 4-6)
Bangor 62-0 (7.1 overs, A Kirkpatrick 31*, S McMillan 18*)
Bangor beat Victoria by 10 wickets