The Two’s Almost Guaranteed Safety

Bangor 2s vs Armagh 2s – 13.08.22

The 2’s began a double header weekend on Saturday with Armagh making the trip to Upritchard Park. Having previously lost to Armagh away in the cup and in the league, there was  added determination to get the win that would all but ensure their place in Junior League 2 next year. However, things didn’t get off to the best start with stand in skipper Cox losing the toss and being asked to field with conditions favouring the batsmen. Armagh took advantage of this with openers McCall and Mann getting off to a quick start, scoring 75 off the first 10 overs and eventually putting on 105 for the first wicket. 

Fortunately for Bangor, the game changed with the introduction of spinners Miller and Patterson, with the former getting both openers out in the 20th over and the latter picking up another wicket in the next over. Some more tight bowling from them and late wickets for Garrett, Cox and Skelly meant Armagh reached 160-6 off their 30 overs. 

Bangor never really looked troubled in the chase, with openers Kerr and Patterson putting on 64 for the first wicket when Kerr departed for 31 in the 10th over. The runs continued to flow with Goldthorpe and Garrett putting on good partnerships with Patterson as Bangor chased down the target of 161 in the 25thover, with Garrett hitting a six to secure an 8 wicket victory and Patterson finishing with 74*.

Derriaghy 2s vs Bangor 2s – 14.08.22

On Sunday, the 2’s travelled to Derriaghy looking to make it two wins from two for the weekend, with skipper Cox winning the toss and choosing to bat on what looked to be a decent wicket. Derriaghy’s opening bowlers made a good start, bowling some tight lines and lengths and reduced the visitors to 28-4 in the 10th over. This brought Skelly to crease, who joined Aicken with Bangor in need of a partnership. Both batsmen looked assured and put on 52 for the 5th wicket before Skelly was ran out for a well made 21. Aicken was eventually out for 29 looking to up the ante as Bangor were bowled out for an under par 118. 

Bangor knew the only path to victory was to take wickets and to take them early, and this is exactly what happened as Simmonite produced a great opening spell picking up figures of 4-37 off 6 overs. When Pyper replaced him and took a wicket in his first over, Derriaghy were 73-5 and Bangor had fought themselves back into the game. However, the runs continued to flow for Derriaghy and despite another wicket for Pyper and a wicket for the in-form Max Escott on his 2’s debut, the hosts held on for a nervy 3 wicket win, leaving Bangor to rue not scoring 20/30 more runs in their innings.