Double Cup Success for Men’s First Eleven

Bangor vs Larne – 22/06/23

Bangor welcomed Larne to a postcard worthy UP with a T20 Bowl final berth up for grabs. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on what looked to be another road with plenty of runs available. 

Bangor opened with the youthful exuberance of Michael Skelly riding the crest of a wave after Ulster Schools’ and NCU U19 honours during the week and the painstakingly English exuberance of Josh Bates. 

The pair set about searching for early wickets and Skelly would do just that in his second over removing the first of the openers. Skelly would soon remove the number three batsman with Bangor now firmly on top with early wickets taken. A change of bowling brought renewed pressure as Prince took the wicket of Wilson the other Larne opener as the visitors were reeling and Bangor seemed to be in firm control. 

However, the visitors middle order would not lie down and watch as their team got steamrolled as they set about creating a defendable total as the balcony slowly filled up with patrons baying for blood, or at the very least some wickets. The Larne batsmen ignoring the Bangor faithful’s desires offered up some powerful hitting bringing the scores into the 130s, whilst testing the material strength of the neighbouring flats brick work. 

The final over fell to Pyper who took two wickets with Yorkers uprooting the leg stump in scenes similar to that of a 1970s Michael Holding, except a generous 20mph slower. Nonetheless the wickets tumbled as after being denied his hat trick, a brilliant grab by George Prince provided Pyper with a third wicket and Larne were restricted to 135 on what looked to be a great deck for batting, as the Bangor batsmen kicked their lips in anticipation. 

Kuda Samunderu and Jonathan Parker strode to the middle like gladiators staring down their next opponents. In the second over, Samunderu tempted by loose bowling found himself caught behind whilst attempting to conduct his own experiment of the neighbouring brick work. This brought another young gun off the back of representative honours with the NCU and Ulster Schools’ sides. McMillan looked classy driving, cutting and hooking as if his life depended on it with composure well beyond his years. 

He and Parker brought the Bangor total on maturely until Parker, possessed by folly and the prospect the balcony’s adulation attempted a reverse sweep which he caught with great skill. However, it was directed towards the fielder at short third man and Parker departed for 27. 

McMillan unphased plundered on with Adam McCusker, who played himself in for one ball, before dispatching the ball over extra cover for four in a display of pure Bangorian flare. Aggressive running, controlled batting and flourishing stroke making became the hallmark of the innings as McMillan brought up his 50 in stunning fashion and Bangor reached their target in 17 overs with 6 wickets to spare. 

The Gold Coast side jubilantly celebrated their victory and will now face Cooke Collegians in the final in August. For now, Bangor go marching on and the mouthwatering prospect of silverware is within touching distance.

Cooke Collegians vs Bangor – 24/06/23

Bangor progressed to the semi-final of the GMcG Junior Cup on Saturday with a comfortable 7 wicket victory vs Cooke Collegians at Pirrie Park.

The home team won the toss and elected to bat on a dry, cracked wicket, which would prove to be a tough test for the batsmen. Bangor, looking to lay down a marker before a league match and T20 Final against the same opposition, started brightly, with Josh Bates and Michael Skelly using the new ball to good effect, constantly troubling the Cooke Collegians batsmen.

The first wicket came in the 9th over with Bates dismissing the dangerous Gibbons. Josh Bates wasn’t finished there though as he knocked over the stumps on two more occasions, leaving Cooke 30-3 after 10 overs. He was keen to remind everyone that 100% of his wickets this season have been bowled. 

Unfortunately for the hosts, it didn’t end there as Chris Pyper and George Prince sprang into action, tearing through the middle order and turning the game in Bangor’s favour. As the overs went on, Sam McMillan was introduced to the bowling, pairing up with wicketkeeper Andrew Kirkpatrick to get his first and only wicket. Panic ensued down the tail of Cooke Collegians with some excellent work from Prince in the slip cordon leading to a run out in the same over, leaving the score at 92-7 after 27 overs. Prince continued to hit the right areas with the ball, finding himself with 3 wickets, finishing Cooke Collegian’s innings in the 31st over for a total of 102.

Bangor openers McMillan and Johnny Keenan headed out to bat with a score of 103 required to win. The hosts struck early, with Keenan departing in the first over through a great delivery by opening bowler Kerr. This brought the in-form skipper Jonny Parker to the crease, looking to see his side home. Parker and McMillan scored at a good rate, with some fabulous shots on display, reaching a total of 47 before McMillan was dismissed for 30. Adam McCusker strode to the crease, looking to continue scoring runs and carry his side over the finish line. McCusker wasted no time and got off to a quick start, showing his intent early. The pair at the crease combined for a partnership of 30, until McCusker tried one shot too many and picked out the fielder at midwicket. However, the aggressive Andrew Kirkpatrick paired up with the disciplined Parker proved no match for the opposition, with both players seeing Bangor over the line, each scoring a valuable 21* as the visitors won by 7 wickets.

Bangor face Waringstown 2nd XI or Downpatrick in the semi finals, providing the opportunity to reach a second final this year.