On a glorious day for cricket Larne’s 2nd eleven traveled to McCombe Park Dunmurry for their 6th league outing of the current campaign and returned home victorious by a nervous 2 wicket margin in a game kindly sponsored by Classic Décor of Upper Main Street Larne.

Larne took to the field having put the opposition into bat with a somewhat unfamiliar look to the team with a fine blend of youth and experience mainly due to the many absences of regular players for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless this was an opportunity for most of the younger players to show their wares, and the side was well represented by all players during the game.

Larne’s young Jonathan King opened the attack with the captain Gary Moore, re-acquainting himself with the art of bowling after an absence of almost a year. It was he in fact who made the breakthrough in his first over after a fine catch by the ever- youthful Michael Waterman behind he stumps.

It was not until the 9th over until further success was yielded when King having bowled superbly beating the bat ion countless occasions eventually found reward care of a sharp catch at cover by Steven Gorman.

Larne found no further reward until the 30th over when Daryl Service in his seventh over removed the home team skipper care of his own safe hands. In between times young Eddie Hunter sent down 2 steady overs before hurting his back in the outfield,. This through the skipper’s plans somewhat into disarray and he was later to call on 2 of his part time bowlers to finish the overs.

Young Daryl snapped up a further wicket before he had finished to end up with excellent figures of 2 for 22 in 10 , half of these runs coming of his last over.

At the other end the experienced Paddy Hegarty, back and playing with an ankle injury ploughed away with no reward for a steady 10 overs at a miserly cost of 23 runs. Into the final 14 overs, the home side were well placed for a handy total at 94 for 4 but only managed a further 60 runs after Tony Anderson and Gorman snapped up the final 6 wickets between them to leave the home side all out in the final over at 144.

In the field a fine all round performance, Higginson getting some time around the square fielded well, Robinson back after 2 years fielded as we all know he is capable but star of the show was Waterman who rolled back the years, showed the energy and enthusiasm of an eighteen year old and had a hand in 4 of the dismissals.

144 was certainly within reach but Larne as usual made it hard for themselves. Anderson and Gorman opened the reply, had 27 on the board in 6 overs and all was looking rosy. Gorman in particular looked in good nick but he edged one to slip for 16, Anderson followed 2 balls later for 8 and Service played back and was bowled for 0.
Now it was 30 for 3 and a different game ensued. David Swan and Moore repaired the damage somewhat with a 28 partnership before Gary perished for 9, David fell 10 runs later after a patient 18 which included perhaps the shot of the day, an exquisite off drive for 4.

68 for 5 and not looking good, the game swung on the partnership between Waterman and Higginson. In 12 overs they added 53 runs, taking numerous sharp singles, frustrating the field and putting Larne back in the box seat.

It was good to see Higginson playing freely aided by the tenacity and determined running of Waterman. Higginson amassed an excellent 34 soon followed by Waterman with a hard earned 24. They had however put Larne within touching distance of victory, overs was never an issue, it was simply wicket preservation from here in.

Andy Robinson looked as though he hadn’t been away, smacked a quick-fire 11 and it was left to young Hunter and the strong hitting King to see Larne home with 2 wickets and 8 overs to spare. (much to the relief of No. 11 bat Hegarty!)

A pleasing victory, playing in wonderful cricketing weather, a game which swung to and fro, Larne were pleased to record a win at a ground where over the years wins are not easily come by.

Scorecard:

Dunmurry 2's: 144 (S McCurley 27: S Gorman 3 for 20; T Anderson 3 for 27; D Service 2 for 22)

Larne 2's: 145-8 ( J Higginson 34, M Waterman 24; D McFadzean 2 for 11; D Irvine 2 for 18 )

Larne won by 2 wkts.