Cooke Collegians v Larne - Saturday 12th June 2004 |
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Larne 1st XI, who are sponsored by The Curran Court, travelled to Shaw's Bridge on Saturday to take on Cooke Collegians feeling full of confidence after their dramatic win over CIYMS the week before. Larne's skipper Trevor Dempsey called incorrectly at the toss and it was Larne who took the field to bowl first on what looked like a good batting wicket with a fast outfield. McClean and Hunter opened the bowling and Cooke Collegians professional Nigel Tubb started off briskly striking 4 boundaries in his first four scoring shots. He was particularly severe on Hunter and Dempsey took him out of the attack after 3 overs, replacing him with the experienced Craig. McClean bowled a fine opening spell and after 4 overs he had only conceded 3 runs. Ian Hill replaced McClean and he bowled with little luck and was unfortunate not to have a few lbw decisions go in his favour. Tubb passed his fifty in the 20 th over and as the score passed 100 in the 22 nd over a large total looked on the cards. Dempsey turned to his in form bowler at the minute Greg Hill looking for a breakthrough. Hill duly obliged as he bowled Mann for 29. He then followed this up after the drinks break when he had Tubb caught by his brother on the third man boundary for 76. He then followed this up by picking up the dangerous Irwin for 9 and Gaw then had Kidd lbw for 5. At this stage Cooke Collegians were 136 for 4 with 33 overs gone and the momentum was with Larne. However sensible batting from Neill and CC captain Forsythe kept the score ticking over and despite Dempsey rotating the bowling Larne could not pick up another wicket. Neill and Forsythe both passed 50 just before the end of the 50 overs and off the last ball Forsythe was run out for 53 and Cooke Collegians had posted 245 for 5. A solid opening partnership from Larne was needed to give them any chance of winning the match. Alexander and Griebenouw (who moved up from his usual position of number 3) started the reply and they got Larne of to a thrilling start as they cracked the ball to all parts of the boundary. Both players looked in great form, especially Alexander who has had a lean time of late but returned to form last week with 46. Griebenouw was the more aggressive of the two and as he raced to 50 he struck two sixes and 6 fours. The Larne hundred came up in the 23 rd over and at the drinks break Larne were sitting as favourites with the score on 118 for no wicket. After the drinks break Griebenouw decided to press the accelerator pedal and scored 15 off Forsythe's 2 nd over. Next over (Tubbs last over) he stroked 3 fours in consecutive balls before Tubb had his revenge when an off-cutter dislodged the off stump bail and bowled Griebenouw for an entertaining 90. Tubb then had David Tweed (just returned from University) lbw first ball and Larne were 154 for 2 after 28 overs. The equation at this stage of the match was Larne needed 92 runs with 22 overs to go and 8 wickets in hand. What followed next can only be described as a bit of a shambles. Aiston was out lbw for 2 and Craig followed soon after controversially given out lbw for 11 despite playing well forward. A tired looking Alexander was then well caught by wicketkeeper Neill for 67 and Larne had slumped to 194 for 5 in the 38 th over. Skipper Dempsey and Greg Hill briefly gave Larne some hope with a partnership of 26 in 6 overs before Dempsey was caught by Forsythe at deep mid off. Robinson then claimed two wickets in the same over removing Hill and Gaw. Ian Hill was then caught by wicketkeeper Neill for 1 and Larne were nearly down and out with the score on 226. As the overs started to run out the last pair of McClean and Hunter (who had scored 111 not out for the under 15s the night before) took chances running between the wickets and it was no surprise when Hunter was run out for 4 to leave Larne bowled out for 232 in the 49 th over. This was a very disappointing loss for Larne after such a recording breaking opening partnership between Alexander and Griebenouw and the expressions on the faces of the Larne players and supporters was one of disbelief. Larne captain Trevor Dempsey must somehow pick the players up for this Saturday's clash with Dunmurry at Sandy Bay . Scorecard:- Cooke Collegians 245-5 (N Tubb 76, J Neill 52, S Forsythe 53, G Hill 3-36) |
