Victory for Derriaghy Over the Firsts
2 min read
Bangor are still searching for their first win of the seasonafter a comprehensive defeat by Derriaghy by six wickets at Uprichard Park on Saturday. It was a dominant display by the visitors who will have eyes on promotion to the Premier League this season. For Bangor the bedding in of this young team continues and there is much improvement expected over the course of the 2021 season.
Bangor Skipper, Adam McCusker won the toss and elected to bat on a gloriously prepared Uprichard Park wicket. Having fielded first on each of the previous three matches this season, this was an opportunity for the Bangor side to spend some time in the middle against a fine bowling attack. The opening partnership of Mark Nixon and James Patterson were watchful at first against the experience of Lewis and Stinson. Finding the ball difficult to get away, Mark Nixon was just beginning to get on top of the Derriaghy bowling when he was caught at slip.
McCusker joined Patterson in the middle and set about accelerating the Bangor innings. Running quick singles and punishing the lesser seen bad ball, the two Bangor stalwarts took the score to 30 before McCusker was caught at mid off. This brought the welcome sight of Paddy English to the crease and immediately he began to dominate the Derriaghy bowling, smashing flamboyant cover drives and cultured drives to the boundary at will. Ably supported Patterson who was playing shots all around the wicket these two titans of Bangor cricket took the score past 50 when English was tragically stumped for a quickfire 13. The score was 55 for three after 15 overs.
Bangor batted valiantly in the final five overs of the innings. Patterson was perhaps the unluckiest of the Bangor batsmen, falling to a direct hit run out from Hughes when attempting a second run. Patterson’s crafted 28 bodes well for the future of the Bangor season. Some extravagant shot-making from King, Pyper and especially Onyekwelu saw Bangor reach 88 for the loss of seven wickets after their allotted 20 overs. Realistically, they knew that it would be difficult to defend this total against an experienced and well-oiled Derriaghy machine.
This proved to be the case, as Derriaghy cruised through the second half of the match. Bangor bowled and fielded like dervishes, but they just didn’t have enough runs on the board to defend. Onyekwelu and Walton bowled well at the top of the innings, the latter picking up the wicket of Bailey. Josh Bates continues to impress with the ball taking two wickets with fine catches from Nixon and Kris King. The final wicket of the match was grabbed by Chris Pyper when the impetuous Kenny tried to paddle him over Ricky McLarnon’s head. He only succeeded in lobbing the ball directly to the keeper’s hands. Despite the inroads made, Derriaghy ran out comfortable victors by six wickets. Much to work on in the coming weeks for Bangor.
