MUCKAMORE CRICKET
Once again the wet weather decimated the Muckamore cricket fixtures arranged
for the past week. On a wet Saturday morning when most of the NCU matches
had already been cancelled Muckamore waited in the hope that the rain would
stop and their Gallagher’s Senior Cup match against near neighbours
Templepatrick would be played. Rain delayed the noon start and in the forlorn
hope that it would stop both teams agreed to patiently wait. Early tea was taken
but just after 2pm, with rain still falling, there was no option but to call the
game off. It has been rescheduled for Saturday 29 th June starting at 12pm. But
the Thirds Junior League match against Laurelvale Seconds did go ahead on the
Harrigan’s Hill pitch, obviously with a more enthuastic and determined bunch
of players who weren’t afraid of a bit of rain who were more optimistic that
overhead conditions would eventually improve. Remarkably it turned out to be
the only NCU match to be played on the day. In this 30 over match Muckamore
batted first and scored 169 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Their top batsmen
were Jamie Jackson who was unbeaten with 64 runs, Arnold Oduvelil who
scored 26 runs, Simon Thompson who scored 24 runs, Andrew Hammond who
scored 21 runs and Chinmey Dakhane who was not out with 18 runs. Best of the
Laurelvale bowlers was S Hughes who took 1 wicket for 22 runs. The weather
did improve and in bright sunshine the early Laurelvale batsmen looked as if
they would easily chase down the Muckamore total scoring freely against the
teenage opening bowlers. Then veteran bowlers Simon Thompson and David
Cardwell, making their first appearance of the season, came on to stem the flow
of runs, with the run rate needed at just over four per over. The turning point
came in Simon’s fourth over when he took a wicket with his second delivery
and off his fourth Susan Keates took an unbelievable one handed catch to swing
the game her team’s way. Moral soared in the Muckamore team and obviously
sunk in Laurelvale’s ranks. With enthusiasm boosted new bowlers Arnold
Oduvelil and David Irvine then finished off the remaining batsmen to give
Muckamore a tight exciting 10 run victory. Laurelvale’s top batsmen were A
Webb who scored 51 runs, A Speers who scored 35 runs and M Burns who
scored 20 runs. Best of the Muckamore bowlers were Simon Thompson who
took 5 wickets for 28 runs, Arnold Oduvelil who took 2 wickets for 9 runs and
David Irvine who took 2 wickets for 23 runs. This Saturday the Thirds are at
home to Cregagh Seconds in their next League match.
Last Wednesday evening in damp conditions, the Muckamore Midweek B team
took on Instonians at Moylena in their next league game. Instonians batted first
and in their 20 overs scored 159 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Their top
batsmen were G Higgins who scored 30 runs, G Corr who scored 22 runs and N
Alexander who scored 21 runs. Best of the Muckamore bowlers was A Kumar
who took 2 wickets for 39 runs. Muckamore could only reply with 116 runs for
8 wickets to lose the game by 43 runs. Their top batsmen were J Kuriakose who
was unbeaten on 26 runs and J Jose who scored 25 runs. Best of the Instonians
bowlers were G Higgins who took 3 wickets for 13 runs and N Skillen who took
3 wickets for 20 runs. They will have very little time to dust themselves down
as they are facing one of the biggest fixtures of the year. This Wednesday
evening they will play the A team to decide, once and for all, who is the best
Muckamore midweek team.
The Fifths entertained CSNI Fifths at Moylena on Sunday in their Junior
League 7 game. CSNI batted first and could only score 89 runs for the loss of 7
wickets in their allocated 20 overs. Their top batsmen were Mo Aahil who
scored 18 runs, C Tate who scored 14 runs and P Penshaw who was unbeaten
with 14 runs. Best of the Muckamore bowlers were Brian Kirkpatrick who took
2 wickets for 11 runs, Jamie Jackson and Chris Wilson who both took 1 wicket
for 10 runs and Bradley Hodge who took 1 wicket for 19 runs. Muckamore
replied to easily pass that total with 8 wickets to spare. Their top batsmen were
Chita Rane who was unbeaten with 46 runs and James Hood who scored 15
runs. Best of the CSNI bowlers were M Aahil who took 1 wicket for10 runs and
A Meyer who took 1 wicket for 22 runs. This week the Fifths travel to Sandy
Bay to play Larne Seconds in their next league match.
The Seconds are listed to play the quarter final of the Junior Cup this Saturday
in a home game against Instonians Seconds or Carrickfergus Seconds and on
Sunday they will entertain Waringstown Thirds at Moylena in a home league
match. The Fourths will travel to play Lurgan Seconds for their next league
game on Saturday. The Sixths will travel to Eaton Park to play Ballymena
Fourths in a league match on Saturday.
The Muckamore Bluebelles had Lurgan Ladies as the visitors to Moylena on
Sunday and returned to winning ways with an easy 75 run victory. The
Bluebelles batted first and their opening batswomen were unbeaten in amassing
their 158 run total in their allocated 20 overs, Amy Caulfield hitting 1x6 and
11x4s in here 89 run innings with Susan Keates her capable partner scoring 37
runs. Lurgan replied with 83 runs for the loss of 6 wickets to lose the game by
75 runs. Their top batswomen were C Neville who scored 23 runs and S Hinds
who scored 17 runs. Best of the Bluebelles bowlers were Joanne Davis who
took 3 wickets for 8 runs, Amy Caulfield who took 1 wicket for 9 runs, Lynn
Lyness who took 1 wicket for 11 runs and Sarah Keates who took 1 wicket for
21 runs. This Sunday the Bluebells travel to the Lawn to play Waringstown
Ladies in their next Premier League match.

Comments