Bangor Grind Out Win Against Holywood

Bangor all but secured a semi-final place in the Robinson Services Bowl with a tense win over Holywood, by three wickets at a sun drenched Uprichard Park on Saturday. This was a vital win over the old rivals as it proved that McCusker’s men have the courage to match their class and are prepared to grind out results when seemingly up against the wall. Holywood tried valiantly against the might of the Bangor side but, yet again, their challenge was in vain.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on a green Uprichard wicket. Bangor had already bowled their opponents out for 90 only three weeks previous, so they confidently took to the middle ready to inflict some more pain on their neighbours. The breakthrough came in only the second over when Mike Grossett trapped Marks in front with the score on a paltry nine. When Hayes fell to a fine catch from Pyper from the bowling of Josh Bates Bangor were very much on top. When Ellitson fell to a fine run out by George Prince in the very next over the Bangor supporters could have been forgiven for thinking another rout was on the cards.

When Beattie fell LBW to the irrepressible Bates in the ninth over, Holywood had only managed to score 23 runs. The experienced heads of McCormick and Gardner attempted to repair the early carnage. They batted extremely sensibly, poaching the singles while, McCormick was prepared to attack the bad ball. Tentatively, they began to pull themselves back into the match. Enter Chris Pyper, fresh from receiving representative honours with the NCU U17s during the week. On a crest of a wave, he removed the stumps of the troublesome Gardner. From the other end Taj Onyekwelu tempted McCormick into having a smash at one outside the off stump which was taken comfortably by Mike Grossett on the long off boundary. The score was now 49 for six with five overs still remaining.

This brought Kava to the crease and he immediately began to hit out. He batted with the tail smartly, farming the strike and hit the bad ball to the boundary. He survived the final five overs adding 21 from only 25 balls. Onyekwelu and Pyper picked up a further wicket each interspersed with a run out affected by Michael Martin. Holywood spluttered to 80 for nine from their 20 overs. This was ten less than they scored at Seapark and Bangor would have been hoping for another facile victory.

The Holywood opening bowlers of Kennedy and Gardner had other ideas in mind. They began a fierce spell of bowling that cause problems for the Bangor batsmen. English got a great delivery first up from Gardner meaning that the opening partnership that had inflicted the humiliating ten wicket defeat on the visitors was broken. When Martin suffered at the hands of a controversial LBW decision in the next over, Bangor were under pressure. This pressure was compounded further when Parker mistimed one to Kava. Bangor had slipped to just 13 for three.

The flurry of wickets brought Skipper Adam McCusker to the crease with Taj Onyekwelu. These two warriors doubled the Bangor score by manoeuvring the ball around the field and running quickly between the wickets. Onyekwelu was bowled with only two balls of Gardner’s spell to go. When Zach Kerr was run out after a mix up, the crisis that looked to have been averted was back on. This brought Grossett to the middle and set up the match winnning partnership.

Both McCusker and Grossett looked to be in great form, playing with confidence and in no way fazed by the early wickets. Both batsmen attacked where necessary and defended where necessary, scoring heavily from the bad balls and rotating the strike like dervishes. Content to play a more watchful innings, McCusker saw Grossett hit some lusty blows taking the score to 75 before he was bowled for 23. Although Bangor lost a further wicket, that of McDaid, they were not to be denied. Chris Pyper cleared the infield to a huge roar from the adoring crowd. Bangor had reached the line, a shade cosily, and now need only a tie from their last two matches to progress.

Match photos available here

Match scorecard available here