MUCKAMORE CRICKET
Despite heavy overnight rain Muckamore Seconds travelled to Lisburn on
Saturday to play North Down Seconds in their Junior Cup Final more in hope
than expectation that it would be played. The 11am start time came and went as
the rain continued to fall but it eventually stopped to allow the mopping up to
proceed to get the pitch ready to play on. Good work by the ground staff finally
allowed the umpires to get the game underway at 2.15 pm but the delay meant
that the 50 over game had been reduced to 36 overs per team. With the
uncertain weather conditions and the dreaded Duckworth Lewis system likely to
come in to play, the advantage seeming always to go to the team chasing a
score, Muckamore Captain Leslie Allen lost the toss and his team was asked to
bat first. Teenagers Luke Allen and Arnold Oduvelil were the opening batsmen
who faced North Down bowlers B Adams and F Keenan and in the first 7 overs
they comfortably scored 34 runs before rain forced a 15 minute stoppage. On
resumption bowler M Moreland replaced Keenan and off only his second
delivery he trapped Oduvelil lbw to dismiss him for 14 runs. Sunson
Stephenson joined Allen and two more runs were added before a delivery from
Moreland came off Sunny’s bat to spin back, hit the wicket and knock off the
bails to send him back to the pavilion with just one run to his name. Richard
Keates was Allen’s new partner and they added 10 runs in the next 2 overs
before he became Moreland’s third victim when he was bowled out for only 7
runs. Now on 55 runs for 4 wickets Johnny Gordon was the next batsman and
he struggled to score 3 runs off 18 deliveries before he mistimed his shot to give
bowler T Carson a simple return catch to bring his innings to an end. David
Rainey then came to the wicket to join Allen but in the very next over Luke’s
stubborn innings ended on 26 runs when he edged a Moreland delivery into
wicketkeeper G Anderson’s hands. Shane Henderson followed to face four
deliveries from new bowler P Shields until he lobbed the fifth straight into
‘point’ fielder H Coulter’s hands to take his little duck back to the pavilion. The
Muckamore batting had collapsed from 34 runs for no wickets to 68 runs for 6
wickets in just 10 overs as Leslie Allen came to the wicket. Another brief
stoppage for rain saw bowler Keenan return to bowl Rainey with his first
delivery after he had scored 12 runs. Benji Cathcart was Leslie’s next partner
and they took the score to 85 runs into the 26 th over before he was caught by
‘point’ fielder Coulter off a Keenan delivery. Michael Wilson was the
penultimate batsman and with Leslie they took the score 97 runs until stepping
down the wicket he was hit on the pads and was dubiously given out lbw to a
Moreland delivery in the 28 th over to end his 3 run innings. David Steen was the
last man in and he faced two deliveries before Leslie was given out to another
doubtful lbw decision off a P Shields delivery when he had stepped well
forward to try and force the ball away for another run. This brought the very
disappointing 98 run Muckamore innings to an end. Best of the North Down
bowlers was the veteran Marty Moreland who took 5 wickets for 21 runs, in a
performance that the Muckamore batsmen just couldn’t handle and F Keenan
who took 2 wickets for 21 runs. I Arthur and H Coulter opened the batting for
North Down against Muckamore bowlers Shane Henderson and Michael
Wilson but after just 2 overs the rain again forced the players off the pitch.
When play resumed the unfair Duckworth Lewis calculation had reduced the
North Down target to only 74 runs in the next 22 overs. Although Muckamore’s
captain Leslie Allen used five of his bowlers they were unable to make a quick
breakthrough and the score progressed to 61 runs into the 11 th over before David
Steen had Arthur caught by ‘point’ fielder Michael Wilson to end his opening
partnership on 16 runs. The new batsman was S Scott but as he and his partner
Coulter eased towards their team’s victory the unfortunate Muckamore
wicketkeeper Benji Cathcart suffered a leg injury when diving for a ball and had
to be helped off the field. The versatile Captain Leslie Allen replaced him for
the last few overs and the 12 th man teenager Jude Keates came on as the suitable
replacement. The game continued and the batsmen easily scored the 13 runs
needed to clinch this very easy 9 wicket victory. Batsmen H Coulter finished
not out on 37 runs and S Scott finished on 12 runs not out. Best of the
Muckamore bowlers was David Steen who took one wicket for 9 runs. A very
disappointing result for the Muckamore boys who with a below par
performance were beaten by a better team on the day. This Wednesday evening
the hectic end of season rush continues when the Seconds travel to Belmont
play CIYMS Seconds in a 20/20 league game; on Saturday they are at home to
Carrickfergus Seconds and on Sunday they travel to Comber to play North
Down Seconds. Both the First team home games against Lisburn and
Waringstown were washed out at the weekend and the end of season pile up of
fixtures is further congested by the closed dates for the Interprovincial matches
this weekend. The next listed game for the Firsts is at Moylena against fellow
relegation threatened strugglers Instonians on Saturday 24 th August. All the
other Muckamore games were also cancelled at the weekend. The Fourths are
listed to play BISC Seconds at home this Saturday. The Fifths are scheduled to
play away to CIYMS Fourths on Saturday and at home to Larne Seconds on
Sunday. The Sixths home game against Belfast Superkings Seconds on
Saturday will have to be played elsewhere or postponed.
The Muckamore Bluebelles travelled to Stormont on Sunday to play against
CSNI Ladies in the final of the Gallagher Premier Challenge Cup. The
Bluebelles Captain Helen Breet won the toss and asking CSNI to bat first they
scored 103 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allocated 20 overs Their top
scorers were S Thomas who scored 22 runs and A Leckey who scored 19 runs.
Best of the Bluebelles bowlers were Zoe Baysting who took 2 wickets for 12
runs and Joanne Davis who took 2 wickets for 25 runs. The Bluebelles batters
kept up with the run chase and needing ten runs to win off the very last over
they fell just 3 runs short of victory. Their top scorers were Amy Caulfield with
44 runs and Joanne Davis with 17 runs. Best of the CSNI bowlers were E Scott
who took 2 wickets for 15 runs and A Leckey who took 2 wickets for 22 runs. A
very disappointing defeat and in a close finish such as the question ‘if only’ is
always asked. Lessons should be learned to look for and push for that second
run along with the reduction of bowling extras which in the end would have
made such a difference to the result.
Last Wednesday evening, the Muckamore U13A team travelled to Shaw's
Bridge to play Instonians U13A in the semi final of their League. Instonians
won the toss and elected to bat. Whilst the Instonians score turned over very
quickly in the early overs, Muckamore did take 2 wickets in quick succession,
with James Laverty trapping one of the openers LBW in his first over, and Jude
Keates smashing the stumps of the other opener with a superb yorker, leaving
Instonians on 26 for 2 after 3 overs. That brought Tom Crothers and Amy
Hunter to the crease. They steadied the Instonians innings, scoring 36 and 23
respectively, before losing their wickets to the bowling of Callum Stewart and
Ethan Wilson, with the score now on 107. But it was the innings of Ben
McCausland that hurt Muckamore the most, and whilst Sam Magee did bowl 2
of Ben's batting partners out, Ben finished on 53 not out leaving Instonians
finishing on 170 for 6 off their allocated 20 overs. The Muckamore openers,
Sam Magee and Callum Stewart, were well prepared for what they needed to
do, and it was only a freaky high bounce that led to Sam getting caught behind
with the Muckamore score on 4. Callum was then partnered by Jude Keates and
together they effortlessly took the score to 45 in the seventh over before Jude
was stumped with his score on 15. Muckamore continued to score steadily but
with light fading fast the decision was taken to call time on the game, with the
Muckamore score on 81 for 6 off 15 overs. This meant the game was decided on
run rate, Instonians 7.5, Muckamore 5.4, meaning Instonians won the game and
progressed to the final. This game concluded the U13s season. This is another
fantastic young team that has loads of cricketing talent, talent that our Club
should be highly proud of. And lastly, a special mention must go to a person
who is always prepared to go the extra mile. Sarah Keates has assisted the youth
coaches with scoring, preparing the teams and travel arrangements to many
U11, U13 and U15 games - not just this year - but in the last 5 years. Without
her support the youth coaches would have struggled. Sarah ("Keatoe"),
everything you've done hasn't gone unnoticed and has been greatly appreciated.
For that, the youth players and coaches want to say a massive......THANK
YOU!
Last Thursday evening the Muckamore U11A team hosted Waringstown in the
semi final of the U11 League Premier Division. Waringstown won the toss and
elected to bat and they got off to a slow start with Muckamore’s opening
bowlers Luka Bates and Connor McVicker conceding only 12 runs in 8 overs,
with just 6 runs scored off the bat. Their team mates supported them superbly in
the field making runs difficult to come by, indeed, the first two wickets came
from run outs, both the result of good fielding from Connor McVicker and Alfie
Bingham. Muckamore had restrained Waringstown to 26 runs from 12
overs. Waringstown’s Robbie McCallum and Abby Harrison were now at the
wicket and together they built a partnership of 19 runs and were only separated
by Alfie Bingham who took centre stage with the ball to claim the wicket of
Robbie who made 18 runs. Abby batted to the end of the innings making 17
runs not out, and the Waringstown innings closed on 74 runs for the loss of 3
wickets from their allocated 20 overs. Special mention to Muckamore’s 9 year
old Shauryaman Bisht whose boundary fielding, diving and putting his body on
the line, contributed greatly to restrict Waringstown in their quest for vital runs.
Muckamore openers James Murray and Marko Bates steadily built an opening
partnership of 20 runs in 5 overs against an accurate bowling attack of Robbie
McCallum and Alex McMeekin with the former bowling Marko to claim their
first wicket. Good running between the wickets ensured a decent Muckamore
start, but unfortunately James was caught soon after and now Luka Bates and
Connor McVicker were at the crease. Luka hit two boundaries but was then
bowled whilst going for another big hit on the leg side. With the score at 34
runs for 3 wickets and Waringstown in buoyant mood sensing victory Connor
McVicker and his new partner Jayden Irwin set about the task of rebuilding the
Muckamore innings. Both played with great maturity under severe pressure.
Connor struck four boundaries in a well made 24 runs not out and Jayden hit
one boundary in his 13 runs not out. The highlight for the coaching team was
the 15 singles taken, therefore constantly rotating the strike and not allowing the
Waringstown bowlers to get into any rhythm. Their superb partnership of 42
runs in 7 overs saw Muckamore home in the 16th over. A man of the match
performance from Connor McVicker and great support from Jayden Irwin
delighted their team mates and supporters who cheered and clapped them off the
pitch. Well played Waringstown who fought hard and in great competitive spirit
to keep the game in the balance for a long period. This is a great achievement
for this Under 11 Muckamore youth team to reach a final. Congratulations to all
the squad on their contribution and dedication in winning five of their six
matches to book their place in this showpiece occasion which will be played at
Moylena against Instonians on Monday 26th August.
The Midweek B team travelled to Uprichard Park last Wednesday evening to
play Bangor in their last match of the season seeking a win to draw level with
their opponents at the top of the table. In dull damp conditions Muckamore
batted first and were all out for 105 runs. Their top batsmen were K Bist who
scored 24 runs and J Jose who scored 21 runs. Best of the Bangor bowlers were
A Gowdy who took 4 wickets for 17 runs and J McKeown who took 2 wickets
for 24 runs. Bangor replied to pass the Muckamore total with ease to win the
game by 9 wickets to beat their nearest rivals and clinch the league title for the
2019 season. Their top batsmen were M Hutchinson who retired on 31 runs and
P McMullan who retired on 30 runs. Best of the Muckamore bowlers was Sanu
John who took one wicket for 17 runs. The bad weather meant that the
Midweek A team’s last match against Woodvale couldn’t be played.
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