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CIYMS V MUCKAMORE (20/20 CUP FINAL)
Sitting joint top of Senior League One, Muckamore got a rest from league cricket on Saturday in preparation for the 20/20 Technology Cup final against Premier League side CIYMS at Comber on Sunday. The 20/20 Shield final taking place at the same ground before Muckamore’s match had been interrupted by rain forcing the start of the second match to be delayed. CIYMS won the toss and asked Muckamore to bat first, but another downpour delayed the start for another half an hour.
Wayne Horwood and Jason Van Der Merwe opened the batting for Muckamore and they took the score to 12 runs before the latter was unlucky to be caught by Hanna on the deep point boundary after he juggled to hold on the flying ball as it rebounded off his chest. Another rain interruption saw the game reduced to 17 overs as Indrajeet Kamtekar joined Horwood at the wicket, to score 3 runs before he was comprehensively bowled by the jubilant Heasley in the same over. Ralph Coetzee was the new batsmen and in 3 overs the two left handers took the score to 34 runs before Horwood mistimed a hook over his shoulder to be easily caught by Lucas, fielding at ‘short fine leg’.
Craig Drummond was Coetzee’s new partner and the score progressed to 47 runs before the latter’s misjudged hook shot went straight into the ‘short backward square leg’ fielder Gelston’s hands and Muckamore’s top four batsmen were back in the pavilion. What followed was a complete collapse by the remaining Muckamore batsmen as they embarrassingly processed to and from the wicket. Neil Gill lasted less than 2 overs before he was bowled by McMillan; Trevor Neill was trapped lbw off the next delivery and Drummond’s tame shot was easily caught by mid off fielder Heasley to leave them on 53 runs for 7 wickets. David Cardwell was given out lbw from his first delivery and Jordan Mairs was run out in the next over before he had scored. This left Sunson Stephenson and Andy McCulloch the last pair at the wicket and they took the score to 59 runs before the former was bowled by McCord in the 15th over to bring this bitterly disappointing batting performance to an end.
Best bowling figures for CIYMS were C McMillan (4 wkts for 11 runs), R Hanna (2 wkts for 8 runs) and B McCord (2 wkts for 14 runs).
McMillan and Cooper opened the CIYMS innings and the former comfortable steered Gill’s first three deliveries, from the Pavilion End, to the boundary. Kamtekar opened from the other end and McMillan hit another four before he mistimed a hook over his shoulder and was well caught by the diving McCulloch. Coetzee replaced Gill and off his second delivery Cooper’s drive down the ground was brilliantly caught by the diving McCulloch. Heasley and McCord were now the batsmen at the wicket, but two deliveries later the latter edged a Coetzee delivery into wicketkeeper Mairs’ hands to leave the stunned CIYMS team on 20 runs for 3 wickets. Gelston joined Heasley and he scored a single to take him to the other end where he was bowled by Kamtekar’s first delivery. Hingston came to the wicket and took a single to get to the other end only to be bowled by Coetzee in his next over. Now 30 runs for 5 wickets, with their top batsmen gone, Heasley and new batsman Lucas steadied the ship and in the next four overs took the score to 55 runs to just need 5 more runs to win.
Then in a little twist to make things interesting and Muckamore wish that they had another 20 runs to play with, Heasley was caught on the boundary by Gill off a Coetzee delivery followed next ball by Ferguson who was given out lbw, to leave CIYMS on 55 runs for 7 wickets. Lucas and new batsman Hanna added another 6 runs to squeeze over the finishing line in what was almost an exciting finish. Best bowling figures for Muckamore were R Coetzee (5 wkts for 11 runs in 4 overs).
It’s back to league action this Saturday with a return to Moylena for the first home game of the season against Armagh with a 12pm start. Provisional arrangements have yet to be confirmed for a home match against Saintfield on Sunday.
BANGOR 2nd XI v MUCKAMORE 2nd XI
Muckamore Seconds travelled to Uprichard Park to play Bangor Seconds in what was a must win match if they were to climb out of the relegation zone. Bangor batted first and after getting off to a good start was blitzed by a devastating bowling spell from Leslie Allen who took 4 wkts for 14 runs, making a welcome return to the form which gave him a regular place on the senior team for years.
After a 90 minute interruption for rain, Bangor was finally all out for 123 runs in the 39th over. D McCusker top scored with 40 runs. Craig Drummond and Simon Thompson opened the Muckamore innings and quickly took the score to 39 runs before the former was caught off a half hearted drive at mid off. Sunson Stephenson joined Thompson and another 30 runs were added before the latter was caught in the covers after scoring 22 runs. The score progressed to 73 runs before Johnny Kennedy was trapped lbw in the 18th over and Stephenson soon followed when he was caught on the long on boundary going for a big hit.
Richard Van Der Merwe was now partnered by Leslie Allen and they took the score to 99 runs before the former top edged a hook shot and was well caught by the’ fine leg’ fielder in the 24th over. Trevor Neil was next and the score progressed to 109 runs before heavy rain forced the players off the field.
No more play was possible and in the calculations that followed Muckamore had passed the totals required and were declared the 5 wicket winners. The Seconds are listed to play Carrick Seconds on Sunday but the venue is yet to be confirmed.
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