Mixed Fortunes for the 3XI

In this far from normal season last week saw Bangor III’s with another two matches to reach the 2/3rds mark of their season of six games.

After back to back victories in their first two matches with North Down III’s Bangor travelled to Saintfield on Wednesday evening, to face their seconds, for their next T20 encounter.

Having lost the toss Bangor were asked to field.  The omens weren’t good as two team members lost the ability to use Google Maps and turned up 15 minutes late by which time a light rain had started to steadily fall that lasted for the duration of the first innings.

Saintfield started well with their opener M Hamill taking a liking to the opening spell of pace bowling with Saintfield reaching 59 runs after 8 overs for no loss of wicket.  Bangor took pace off the ball with the introduction of Stephen Cumper who bowled the dangerous M Hamill with his second delivery on his way to figures of 3-0-12-2.

Saintfield however managed to maintain the run rate with big hitting M Greer pocketing a couple of sixes on his way to an unbeaten 44 as Saintfield finished on 142 for 4 off their twenty overs.

With an above par target Bangor needed a good start in this shortened format.  Will Simpson and Matthew Quinn started well but after the fall of Will for 13, Matthew saw a precession of partners come and go before his enforced retirement, after a command performance, in reaching 50 not out.

With the departure of Matthew the Bangor innings limped through the remaining overs to finish at 104 runs for 9 wickets in the thirds first defeat of the season.

Saturday saw Holywood II’s visit Upritchard where they won the toss and elected to bat first.  The Holywood innings would be best described as ‘solid if uneventful’ as they reached 96 for 3 after their 20 overs.  Apart from the 16 extras, the Bangor bowling was tight, aided by some excellent fielding, with the pick of the bowlers being Connor Cox (4-0-9-0) and Stephen Cumper (4-1-6-1).

Bangor opened up with the in form Matthew Quinn and Zach Kerr. Zach removed any scoreboard pressure by taking 16 runs off the second over before falling for 25 (19 balls) in the sixth over with the score at 33.  After a stumping the very next ball captain, Ian Fletcher, joined Matthew in the middle.  The pair appeared to be in a hurry to get home and passed the target 7 overs later scoring at an average of 10 an over.  Matthew finished undefeated on 31 (36 balls) for the second time in the week whilst Ian became the top scorer with 36 not out (24 balls).

In these uncertain times cricket was again the victor adding an air of normality to those of us who love the game.

Match photos taken by Joe McEwan from the Holywood game available here