Men’s 1XI Come Through Tricky Victoria Test
4 min read
Bangor hosted Victoria at an enchanting Upritchard Park for a top of the table clash in the NCU Senior League 2. The visiting side were previously unbeaten in the league with 5 wins on the trot, as they prepared to face their most formidable match yet.
Bangor won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked to be a road-like surface with a tinge of green, setting up a fervent battle between bat and ball.
Hutchinson and McMillan opened for Bangor and put in the hard yards early to keep the scoreboard ticking over, in the face of tricky bowling from the Victoria openers. The 50 was brought up in 55 balls which does not do justice to the stellar application of both the openers, who made difficult conditions look elementary at times.
McMillan brought up a brisk 50, as his fine form with bat in hand continued, creating a firm foundation for the rest of the order to capitalise on. This knock was filled with character and breathtaking stroke play with McMillan displaying temperament beyond his youthful years.
Hutchinson departed shortly after McMillan’s half-century in a tight run out. Hutchinson left the pitch furious at having lost his wicket, but the rest of his teammates were grateful for the strong start he had earned them. Bangor we’re 96-1 after 17 overs.
Captain Parker came to join McMillan at the crease and the pair would battle for another couple of overs before McMillan, seeking to bolster the run rate, lofted a drive into the air that was snared at mid-on, giving Victoria one of the most prized scalps in the league.
Robbie Van Harte and Parker now sought to build a new and equally formidable partnership. In the face of tough and awkward bowling in the middle overs the park took the Bangor total to 164 after 31 overs until Parker was out caught for 25, also seeking to up the rate.
This brought the belligerent Andrew Kirkpatrick to the crease, whose bludgeoning and unsubtle batting displays have been a treat to watch. He added to the Bangor with some lusty blows until he departed for 36 off of 24 balls, including four boundaries.
Simpson, Patterson and Griffin would all make cameo appearances. All the while, Van Harte, struggling with an injury, battled doggedly to keep the scoreboard ticking over and occasionally added some fierce ball striking of his own to the irresistible Bangorian offensive. The innings would close with Bangor on 233-6 and Van Harte bringing up a deserved half-century.
On a pitch like Upritchard Park, this total was not necessarily safe. The brash and occasionally erratic bowling of Pyper and measured and controlled seam bowling of Van Harte opened the bowling for Bangor, seeking to gain similar success as achieved the week before against Dunmurry. Maidens we’re commonplace within the first few overs and in the fourth Bangor would have their breakthrough. Pyper, riding the crest of a wave after his spectator back page appearance, bowled two in-swinging deliveries followed by an out-swinger that found the edge and was cooly taken by Hutchinson. As maidens continued, Victoria were 3-1 after 6 overs and escaped the first ten at 22-1 well behind the rate.
Victoria would battle on with some big partnerships. Prince and Simpson fought hard, but when overseas Shaikh came to the crease, after Simpson dismissed Hall LBW, a devastating piece of hitting ensued. Shaikh notched up 65 off 49 with three 4s and six 6s leaving Bangor reeling. Enter James Patterson. Patterson tempted Shaikh into a slog sweep. However, with Patterson’s flight and guile preventing a clean strike from shaikh, he hit the ball too flat and into the grateful grasps of skipper Parker, as Bangor had their man. Victoria needed 8 an over off of the last 8, as their danger man departed.
Sam McMillan must be commended for his bowling in the late middle overs to the depth. The Bangor star boy hid the ball well outside the off stump and collected a brace of wickets as he restricted the Victoria onslaught. When McMillan claimed his second wicket removing Vennard caught and bowled, Bangor were now firmly in the ascendancy.
Despite a late flourish in Patterson’s last over. Bangor held their nerve as Pyper bowled the last and the most handsome team in the NCU claimed their victory.
The game was defined by the first ten overs of both innings, where Bangor batted with great skill and intent. Then, the first ten of the second innings, where Van Harte and Pyper restricted at will leaving a lot for the Victoria side to do. Bangor now enjoy a week’s break before league actions resumes on the 15th June, where the Bangor men look to continue their assault on the top of the table.
