Two Wins for the Men’s 1XI over the Weekend
5 min read
Dundrum 1XI vs Bangor Men’s 1XI – T20 Bowl Quarter Final
The inform seasiders off the back of handing Cooke Collegians their first loss of the season took a trip to what appeared to be a very bleak Dundrum away day with the radar giving little prospect of play. However the rain just about cleared to allow play to start as scheduled, Dundrum won the toss and elected to put the Bangor men in to bat.
The inform seasiders off the back of handing Cooke Collegians their first loss of the season took a trip to what appeared to be a very bleak Dundrum away day with the radar giving little prospect of play. However the rain just about cleared to allow play to start as scheduled, Dundrum won the toss and elected to put the Bangor men in to bat.
Bangor got off to a flier after 3 overs, Bangor were 20-0 with Sam McMillan doing the damage as he started to find the boundary rope, the following over seen Andrew Kirkpatrick get in on the act as he added a beautiful 15 runs off 5 balls in the 4th over including a glorious lofted drive down the ground which found it’s way on top of the Dundrum practice nets. The 5th over saw Bangor lose their first wicket, Sam McMillan bowled by Wright for 14. Mark Hutchinson was next to follow back to the clubhouse only making 5 runs and the score on 48-2 on what was a tricky Dundrum pitch. The tide seemed to be turning as Kirkpatrick also found himself making his way back to the clubhouse for a well made 26. The wickets unfortunately for Bangor kept tumbling as Robbie Van Harte was next to follow only scoring 6 leaving Bangor 65-4 in the 9th over. The Bangor ship would need to be steadied in order for Bangor to post a defendable score. Wickets continued to keep tumbling regularly but at the other end skipper Jonathan Parker batted diligently knowing that keeping himself in the game would ensure giving Bangor a total to bowl at, Parker was helped by the in form Zach Kerr who added a well needed 12. The tail weren’t able to hang around too long and all departed cheaply with Parker holding the innings together well in difficult conditions taking Bangor to 117 all out in 18.1 overs. Parker unbeaten on 29.
Bangor with the opening bowling partnership of Van Harte and the returning Michael Skelly were hoping to do damage early and with his 4th ball, Van Harte bowled the opening batsman for 2. The next wicket came in spectacular fashion as Hutley the other opening batter tried to push a quick single to Nathan ‘The Judge’ Belshaw this was a costly mistake as a direct hit from the Judge meant there was no need for cross examination, the verdict was indeed out, judge jury and executioner. Sam McMillan got the dangerous Campbell to put one in the air to Belshaw who gracefully accepted his chance and took the catch.
The score was 45-3 in the 7th over and this was the game right here as South African Stian Swanepoel came to the crease. The overseas undoubtedly Dundrum’s most destructive batsman, Bangor would need to manage their game well to prevail from here. Step forward young left arm spinner Will Simpson in his first over of the game bowling to the overseas. First two balls were dots before Simpson flighted his third ball to pry Swanepoel into a mistake which he did as he crunched the ball into the grateful hands of George Prince at cover who held on well to a sharp chance. Jubilant scenes followed as this was a crucial moment in the game for the visitors. The very next ball Bangor found themselves with another wicket bowled by Simpson who was now on a hattrick, it was not meant to be but a double wicket maiden turned the game round in the favour of Bangor. McMillan followed up his consistent bowling of late with the wicket of Wright for a duck. Simpson then got back in on the act taking his third of the night dismissing Campbell, bowled. Robbie van Harte then came back on and took the penultimate wicket, followed by Prince bowling Jenkins to pick up the final wicket, Bangor winning by 31 runs.
The defending champions of the T20 Bowl are into the semi final and will face Downpatrick or Holywood at Upritchard Park in mid July.
Bangor Men’s 1XI vs Belfast Superkings 1XI
Bangor won the toss and elected to bat first, with Mark Hutchison and Sam McMillan getting off to an aggressive start, bringing up their fifty run partnership off just four overs. With McMillan dismissed shortly after, Bangor skipper Jonathan Parker came to the crease. Hutchison and Parker scored freely as the runs flowed with both parties bringing up half centuries and compiling a 150 run partnership in the process as they serenely batted in the afternoon sunshine. Hutchison eased his way to a dominant and well deserved hundred off just 83 balls including 8 fours and even a six. The Superkings finally managed to break the partnership as Parker was dismissed on 68 in the 26th over trying to up the ante as Bangor eyed up a massive total.
Robbie Van Harte joined in the runfest with a quick fire 34 including 3 sixes before being caught out on the boundary trying to get a fourth. Andrew Kirkpatrick contributed in a typically explosive fashion with 35 off just 20 balls in the final few overs. Hutchison finished the innings on 125* not out and received a standing ovation by all at the ground as he made his way of the pitch. Bangor ended their innings on 348-4 off their 40 overs.
Opening bowlers Robbie Van Harte and Michael Skelly bowled tight restricting lines as the Superkings struggled to score, Van Harte soon claimed his first wicket of the day with wickets falling in regularity leaving the visitors 40-3 off 10 overs. The third wicket especially memorable as 14 year old sub fielder & future star Josh McMillan held on to a fine catch as he was fielding in place for the knackered Mark Hutchinson after his 40 overs of batting! Although the defiant middle order of the Superkings was able to stem the flow off wickets, Chris Walton broke the stubborn partnership assisted by a solid catch from the young Myles McNaught in the 22nd over.
With the visitors well behind the run rate, Will Simpson with an excellent exhibition of left arm spin bamboozled the batsmen troubling the front pad on numerous occasions. Wickets flowed with regularity for Simpson with 4 wickets in his first 4 overs including a wicket maiden. Simpson claimed his well deserved maiden 1XI fifer finishing with figures of 5-26. Even with Simpson’s spell the Superkings managed to just about bat their allotted overs being 9 wickets down with Bangor winning by a very comfortable 197 runs.
Bangor are back in action on Saturday at Upritchard Park in a big top of the table clash against Downpatrick.
