Men’s 1XI see off Ardent Blues
4 min read
Bangor welcomed Ardent Blues to Upritchard Park and the hosts were looking to continue their fine form. Bangor won the toss and elected to bat first.
Sam McMillan and Andrew Kirkpatrick strolled out to the middle, and started the innings scoring regularly. After 3 overs the Bangor openers had got themselves to a comfortable score 18-0 until Kirkpatrick left one just outside off stump which swung late clipping the top of off-stump. Skipper Johnny Parker joined Sam out in the middle and started restructuring Bangors innings while Sam as he so often does punished the bowlers to the boundary after 11 overs bangor had got themselves to a strong 77-1.
Sam looking to keep up the high scoring rate made an unfortunate mistake and found himself being caught for a well made 40. Parker was joined by Robbie van Harte and together worked regular singles around the ground ticking the scoreboard over this was until the end of the 14th over when Parker nicked behind. Bangor 91-3 and at this point, slight worry had certainly set in as Bangor have not been in this position often this season and credit to the Ardent Blues seamers who were bowling in some nice areas. Nathan Belshaw next in came to steady the ship with RVH at the other end got as Bangor back on track. At drinks Bangor were 118-3 but disaster struck on the first ball post drinks were van Harte was unfortunate to find mid on and Bangor were in a spot of bother at 118-4 with over 19 overs to go.
All Rounder Will Simpson was next man in and he & Belshaw attempted to restructure the Bangor innings with plenty of time in hand. Simpson and Belshaw knocked the ball around the ground not really giving the bowlers a look in, building a strong partnership at the end of the 26th over Simpson and Belshaw had steadied the Bangor ship and got the side to 164-4. An unfortunate run out happened as Belshaw hit one to extra cover and both batsman looking at each other in the middle of the wicket neither calling, was the result of Bangors loss of their 5th wicket, Belshaw run out.
A short cameo from youngster Myles McNaught who was dismissed leaving Bangor 179-6 in the 31st over. With Simpson still at the crease, Bangor had a chance of posting a good score. Patterson and Simpson knowing this partnership was crucial in terms of winning the game. Simpson brought up his first 1XI 50 off 47 balls to rapturous applause from a decent crowd at Upritchard Park. Patterson and Simpson started to put the foot down making a 51 partnership in 32 balls. Patterson found himself caught at extra cover trying to up the ante in the final few overs. The big hitting Michael Skelly came to the crease at the perfect time in the innings to inflict some damage and he & Simpson provided a flurry of boundaries at the end to get Bangor to 255-7 off their 40 overs. Simpson playing his finest innings in Bangor colours scoring 84* off 64 balls.
Bangor fuelled by a terrific tea knew another good bowling performance would see the Seasiders pick up another vital 4 points as they try and out the heat on the chasing pack to keep up in the race for promotion.
The first wicket came in the 6th over when Chris Pyper rearranged the leg stump out of the Ardent Blues opener, which kickstarted Bangor with the score on 29-1. Van Hart then began a bowling masterclass, getting Abraham to find the hands of Sam McMillan who took a great catch over his head at cover, Robbie followed this the very next ball by trapping the dangerous Babu lbw first ball, leaving ardent blues 33-3 after 9 overs.
Van Hart continued his fine bowling spell by dismissing Nair in the 12th over for 8. Similar to before the new batsman made his way to the crease and only faced one ball, this time though he was run out by skipper Parker for a golden duck.
Ardent Blues now 49-5 in the 13th over and in a lot of trouble. Express pacer Michael Skelly who has been working tirelessly on bowling of late then got in at the act teaming up with Kirkpatrick to find the inside edge of George to claim his first. Bangor were well on top at this stage and heading towards another deserved 4 points. Van Hart picked up his 4th wicket getting John to snick off to George Prince at first slip with a great grab with the score on 53-7. Skelly picked up his second of the day dismissing Matthews who skied one to Nathan Belshaw at mid wicket who safely held on and the score on 70-8.
A stubborn rearguard action by the Ardent Blues 9th wicket partnership delayed the inevitable until the next wicket for Ardent Blues to lose was Gopalakrishnan who was clean bowled by Prince who deservedly got a wicket he had been working for with the score on 107-9 in the 25th over. Simpson then came on to bowl, first ball a waist high no ball which did create ripples of laughter in the field and crowd watching on but he then followed the no ball by bowling Salimon the very next ball to even more laughter from all as he wrapped up the match.
Ardent Blues 108 all out and Bangor win by 147 runs and the Seasiders march on with a double header this coming weekend. A local derby vs Holywood in the T20 Bowl Semi Final on Friday evening followed by a league game against BISC, both games at Upritchard Park and all support welcome.
