Bangor Win Top of the Table Clash
3 min read
Bangor First Eleven travelled to Pirrie Park last Saturday for a top of the table clash with the previously unbeaten Cooke Collegians. Both sides were missing keys players and, in the absence of regular Captain Jonny Parker, stand-in Captain Andrew Kirkpatrick lost the toss and the hosts chose to bat first on a previously used, dry and dusty pitch.
Reinvigorated by his birthday celebrations last weekend, the now late-40s opening bowler Robbie Van Harte clean bowled the Cooke opener Kumar for a duck in the first over.
What followed can only be described by this correspondent as unprecedented in over 40 years of watching cricket. Cooke’s number three batter Haider came in to bat wearing only one pad and proceeded to take guard. Much hilarity ensued and the game paused to allow him to get suitably attired. To Haider’s credit, he put this embarrassment behind him to hit a quickfire 30 in a partnership of 63 with Nada. Haider did ride his luck with the returning Josh Bates being particularly unlucky not to get his man.
The ever reliable George Prince brought an end to Haider’s fun and Bangor began applying the pressure to chip away at the Cooke batting order. Will Simpson’s left arm spin then got in on the act clean bowling opener Nada for 25 before Sam McMillan, spurred on by his travelling support, tore through the middle order in a spell of 3 for 37 off 6 overs. McMillan found the perfect lengths for the tricky pitch mixing some nasty short pitched deliveries with dangerous full balls to take all of his victims clean bowled.
Simpson and young Myles McNaught both chipped in with valuable contributions with the ball however a last wicket stand of 30 frustrated the Bangor boys but eventually Prince deceived Singh with a well disguised slower ball to claim a simple caught and bowled to close the innings on 162 all out.
Bangor opened with the vastly experienced Hutchinson and his young protégé Sam McMillan. McMillan took his good form with the ball in to his batting smashing a quickfire 51 out of an opening stand of 76. He hit four 4s and four 6s and was the only batter on either side to make batting looking easy. Making such a dent in the target so quickly took the pressure off the remaining batters as Cooke’s bowlers began to settle after the early onslaught.
Veterans Hutchinson and Van Harte took the score to 101 with few alarms before an error of judgement from Van Harte led to him leaving a delivery which went on to hit his off stump. After the quick dismissal of Kirkpatrick, Simpson joined Hutchinson to steady the ship however Hutchinson fell victim to the umpire LBW for 38 and Simpson was caught for 11. Griffin followed quickly to give Cooke a sniff of a come from behind victory.
Bangor decided that attack was the best form of defence and Doncaster’s finest, Zach Kerrwas joined by fourth former McNaught and both quickly found their form with fours and sixes to hurry the game towards a conclusion. McNaught eventually fell for a well made 15 and it was left to Nathan Belshaw to hit the winning runs with Kerr left on 17 not out.
This was a well-crafted win for Bangor and puts the team in pole position for a return to Section One at the mid-point of the season. Player of the Match award deservedly goes toSam McMillan for a well-rewarded all-round performance.
The Mens 1XI are pulling double duty with a T20 Bowl Quarter Final at Dundrum on Friday evening and league action on Saturday at Uprichard Park against Belfast Superkings.
Finally, it would be remiss not to thank Cooke Collegians for their hospitality and for a good game played in a fine spirit.
