Bangor Take One Step Closer to their End Goal
4 min read
Bangor almost won against the odds with the forecast predicted on Sunday but were scuppered eventually by the wet weather despite having amazingly restricted Saintfield to 86-9 after 40 overs!
Given a want to get the game in ahead of the last remaining few fixtures and after several forecasts were analysed, Tuesday was picked for the rearrangement which was a risk too given the showery forecast. Fortunately, Upritchard Park was well covered and despite the one heavy shower, play was good to go for a 5.30 start, Bangor won the toss and chose to bowl, backing themselves to chase down the visitors total.
Saintfield got off to a solid start seeing off the opening seam bowlers of Robbie van Harte & George Prince. Left arm spinner Will Simpson was first change and picked up the first wicket, drawing Reid into a mistake and finding the grateful hands of James Patterson at long on.
Disaster would strike a few minutes later as gun all rounder Patterson tried to make a routine stop on the boundary and as he did, inexplicably badly dislocated his pinky finger. A one in a million thing for something that’s done so often, a trip to A&E was required and we all wish James a speedy recovery. Crucially for Bangor a bowling option was lost and pressure increased on stand-in skipper Andrew Kirkpatrick to rotate his remaining bowlers around.
Saintfield were putting a handy innings together with Harrison starting to go through the gears but Simpson picked up his second wicket of the day with super sub Josh McMillan taking an excellent catch, not his first as a sub this season for the 1XI either.
Harrison was becoming a problem for Bangor as he recorded his 50 coming off just 26 balls, his wicket was badly needed otherwise a hefty total for Bangor to chase was looking likely. Enter George Prince, who came on to bowl earlier than planned and he immediately forced a mistake from Harrison.
The ball was sent into orbit as Harrison tried to clear the boundary but against the breeze the ball stalled in the air and held for what felt like an eternity. James Griffin stationed at long on athletically sprinted in as the ball started to move backwards such was the breeze and brilliantly took a sliding catch to claim the big wicket of Harrison with the score on 94-3 with 6 overs to go.
Bangors lack of bowling options was starting to bite them with 31 runs coming off the next 3 overs. The 6th and final bowler to be used was the experienced Gareth McCullough who joined the club last year and was making his 1XI debut and he immediately picked up a wicket with Myles McNaught who had a tough time of it with a drop catch and a rare off day with his bowling took a really well taken catch sliding in on the run from deep cover, showing real strength of character and bouncebackability which is remarkable for someone who’s just 15 years old!
Saintfield finished on 146-4 from their 20 overs and Bangor certainly not overawed by the prospect of chasing it down but certainly needed to play well to do so.
Usual T20 openers Sam McMillan & Andrew Kirkpatrick started the chase and got the side of to a good start until McMillan unfortunately picked out square leg when on another day the ball would be sent into the neighbouring apartments with the score on 15-1 after 2 overs. Mark Hutchinson joined Kirkpatrick in the middle and set about knocking the ball around and pick of the bad ball when offered to score their boundary. The score effortlessly ticked over 50 in the 7th over and Bangor were ahead of the rate.
What followed was an amazing display of batting from this pair as they scored their runs at ease, barely getting above 3rd gear. Even when a good ball was bowled, there rarely was a dot ball as Saintfield struggled to contain them. Kirkpatrick was the aggressor with Hutchinson playing the anchor role and the skipper recorded his well earned 50 with a towering 6 coming off just 37 balls. The 100 runs mark was crossed in the 14th over and Bangor were ahead of schedule as we entered the final few overs.
Both batsmen were just in a bubble and nothing was going disrupt them and they could well still be batting even now such was the ease & prowess that they were scoring their runs at. The 100 run partnership followed in the next over and within 15 minutes these two had navigated Bangor over the line. An exhibition in batting as these two crafted a chanceless partnership of 132, Kirkpatrick finishing on 85* and Hurchinson on 46*.
The win means Bangor move one step closer to promotion and it could be sealed on Saturday should they win and another result goes their way.
An exciting day awaits this Saturday with the side taking on 4th place Cooke Collegians on Saturday at Upritchard Park, all support welcome.
Saintfield 146-4 // 20 Overs
Harrison 51, A McCavera 23, Sofley 21*
W Simpson 2-23, G McCullough 1-15, G Prince 1-23
Bangor 147-1 // 17.4 Overs
Kirkpatrick 85*, Hutchinson 46*
T McCavera 1-18
Bangor won by 9 wickets.
