Bangor Off to a Winning Start

Bangor vs Dunmurry – 06/05/23

Bangor welcomed Dunmurry to Upritchard park on Saturday in their opening fixture of the new Section Two season.

The grounds team had UP looking phenomenal as it remains one of the foremost grounds in Northern Ireland.

Given the standard of the ground, Bangor elected to bat first and Jonny Keenan and Patrick McMillan strode out to the crease ready to face the first deliveries of the new year, as a quiet anticipation grew around the ground.

The opening pair toiled hard, getting due reward for their discipline as the Bangor team moved on to 71 without the loss of a wicket. However, controversy would strike as Keenan would be “mankaded” at the non-striker’s end. This led to uproar from players and supporters alike, as the Dunmurry team celebrated the wicket. The decision was upheld and Bangor now had a fire lit under them. 

McMillan fell shortly after for an imposing 42 off of 51 deliveries bringing skipper Jonny Parker to join housemate and overseas player Kuda Samunderu. 

Clearly the shadow batting the pair and completed at home had paid off, as they set about continuing the Bangor assault on the Dunmurry bowlers. It wouldn’t be long until Samunderu hit his stride, unleashing a barrage of hard hitting, leaving the opposing attack searching for a stroke of luck to end the ruthless hitting. 

Samunderu brought his century up in style with a meteoric six over the mid wicket boundary, as the boundary erupted with applause in admiration of Samunderu at his destructive best. Soon after he would fall for 116 off just 57 balls, he left the crease after a 141 run partnership with Parker, who had supported him ably throughout his innings. Bangor were now 217 for 3.

Samunderu’s wicket brought Mark English to the crease, in spite of his disappointment upon hearing he would be batting at 5. The scent of uddermint had a performance enhancing impact on Parker who would accelerate his innings bringing up a hard fought half century of his own. English would soon depart after being caught off the bowling of Yamsi, as young Sam McMillan arrived to join Parker. 

McMillan and Parker would continue the scoring for Bangor both finishing not out on 57 and 21 respectively putting Bangor in the ascendancy with the commanding total of 299.

Skelly and Pyper opened the bowling and battled hard in the early stages, but to no avail as the Dunmurry openers moved steadily, albeit behind the run rate. George Prince entered the attack showing sufficient guile to remove two Dunmurry batsmen in quick succession, reducing the visitors for 70 for 2. 

Samunderu was soon brought into the attack and his day out continued, as he removed the Dunmurry opener for 43 by LBW. Samunderu would go on to take 4 wickets, bowling with accuracy, flight and aim of deadly proportions, as the visitors were reduced to 164 for 7 with James Patterson also claiming a wicket. 

Soon the Dunmurry tail found themselves quaking at the crease as the terrifying, almost celestial, presence of Jonny Keenan strode over to take over the bowling reigns. Keenan delivered the killer blow as the opposing batsmen were left bamboozled by the elite level of bowling that they were faced with. 

Dunmurry were bowled out for 195 and Bangor were crowned victorious. The dream start to the season for the side who laid down a statement of intent for the season ahead. Undoubtedly, the league will sit up and take note of Bangor who will fancy their chances of being in the mix for league glory come the end of the season.

Bangor vs Larne – 08/05/23

The boys then welcomed Larne to Upritchard on a glorious coronation Monday for a T20 rearrangement. Bangor bowled first and perhaps allowed Larne to get more of a score than they needed to, allowing the visitors to reach 109 for 8. Chris Walton was the pick of the bowlers collecting 4 wickets. Bangor wobbled as they fell to 34 for 5. Bangor were struggling, requiring 17 off the last over all seemed lost – enter James Patterson. Patterson held his nerve, capitalising on extras and loose bowling, whilst the Bangor faithful waited with bated breath. After claiming the winning runs Bangor were jubilant. 8 points claimed to begin the year. JP’s at the wheel, Bangor are rampant – Floreat.