Bangor Return to Winning Ways
4 min read
Bangor vs Dunmurry 08/06/23
Bangor welcomed Dunmurry to a delectable Upritchard park for a midweek t20 cup quarter final.
Bangor won the toss and elected to bat with the opening partnership of skipper Parker and new arrival Kirkpatrick striding to the crease, eager to set an imposing total on their home turf.
They would do just that as Bangor got off to a flier sitting as the opening pair would construct a 87 run partnership immediately putting their Dunmurry adversaries on the backfoot. The partnership was filled with Gower-like timing, aggressive running and sub-par fielding. The deluge of runs was ended in the tenth over as Kirkpatrick found himself caught after crafting a skilful 35.
Roomies Samunderu and Parker were now at the crease and Samunderu, ever the modern 360 degrees player looked to play expansive cricket. However a wide-eyed Samunderu attempted an extravagant reverse sweep which surely would have hit Bloomfield McDonald’s if he had connected. Unfortunately, he did not. Bangor were now 103-2 after 12 overs.
The industrious Parker would bring up his fifty and look to the middle order to aid him in his pursuit of a match winning total. The Bangor run rate was controlled somewhat by wickets but the likes of McCusker, McMillan and Mclarnon ably rotating the strike. Special mention must go to Declan Horrox who claimed another red inker to help his assault on the upper echelons of the batting cup conversations. Parker finished on 78 not out himself and Bangor set what looked to be a strong total of 160.
Kennedy opened the bowling for Bangor and almost immediately removed the Dunmurry opener for a duck, with a sterling catch from Samunderu, who caught the ball not only to take a wicket, but also to save his front teeth as the ball careered towards him a death defying pace. This set the tone for an assured and dominant Bangor fielding performance. Dunmurry never seemed to get going as wickets and tight bowling were a consistent theme for the evening. George Prince gained an opportunity for a hat trick ball but was denied by the batsman’s steely resilience in the face of Bangor royalty. Further wickets were gained by Horrox at the end of the innings with all other Bangor bowlers bowling commendably and with great discipline.
The Dunmurry innings never seemed to threaten the Bangor total as a comfortable 35 run victory was secured as Bangor go marching on.
The team will welcome Larne to the home of cricket for the semi final in what is sure to be a mouth watering return fixture for their previous t20 league fixture, which was won through James Patterson’s individual brilliance.
For now, another routine Bangor victory as the boys have their sights set on securing their place in the final!
Bangor vs Victoria – 10/06/23
Bangor 1st XI faced Victoria in the last 16 of the Junior Cup at Upritchard Park on Sat 10th June. Victoria had been defeated in the previous round of the cup but reinstated after Holywood’s disqualification.
Bangor won the toss and chose to bat with the ground in excellent condition following the recent dry weather. Openers McMillan and Keenan batted steadily reaching 53-0 after 10 overs. Paddy McMillan departed for 33 to a good catch from Parks just as the pair began to find the boundary more regularly. Keenan was joined by Johnny Parker who continued his good form with the bat as the pair put the fielding side under pressure with some good running between the wickets. Keenan was bowled for 65 by the first ball of Sathyan’s second spell. With the foundation set for a winning total, Ricky McLarnon and Michael Skelly built an unbeaten partnership of 51 in the last 8 overs with some crucial boundaries and regularly found gaps in the field. Bangor finished on 217-5 after 40 overs.
David Kennedy and Josh Bates took the new ball for Bangor but the depth of the bowling attack was to be tested after Bangor lost Kennedy to injury in the 3rd over of Victoria’s reply. Michael Skelly took up the attack for Bangor and bowled the dangerous Gray for 16. With Victoria at 42-3, the home side were on top but Sathyan and Babin took the score to 110 until Andrew Gowdy claimed the vital wicket of Babin caught by McLarnon. With Victoria needing 54 from the final 10 overs with 5 wickets in hand the game was in the balance. Josh Bates completed an excellent spell of bowling and deserved more reward for his 8 overs which only conceded 28 runs. After McVey was bowled for 30 in an excellent second spell by Michael Skelly, smart bowling from George Prince and Sam McMillan ensured the Victoria lower order required over 6 runs per over in the closing overs. With one wicket in hand, Victoria needed 10 runs from the final over and 5 from the last ball but a tidy over from George Prince ensured victory for Bangor. Bangor now face a trip to Cooke Collegians in the quarter finals and return to league action with a local derby against Ards & Donaghadee at Upritchard Park next Saturday.
Bangor 217-5 (40 overs; J Keenan 65, R McLarnon 34no, P McMillan 33, J Parker 30, M Skelly 23no, S Sathyan 2-26, B Babin 2-32)
Victoria 213-9 (40 overs; B Babin 33, S Sathyan 33, J McVey 30, M Skelly 3-38, G Prince 3-51, A Gowdy 3-51)
Bangor win by 4 runs
