Larne Cricket Club

On Saturday 1 May, Larne Second XI, sponsored by The Kiln, beat Belfast Harlequins II by 7 wickets in League Division 2 Section 2.

On another beautiful day for cricket, Larne travelled to Deramore Park, unsure of what to expect from a Belfast Harlequins team that was relegated from Section 1 last season. Although the pitch looked good, Larne’s skipper decided to back his bowlers and asked Harlequins to bat.

Youngsters Johnny McIlhenny and Eddie McKee opened the bowling for Larne but could not force a breakthrough as Harlequins rode their luck and built an opening stand of 60. Dean Hodge and Paddy Heggarty had been brought into the attack after 10 overs and it was Hodge who made the initial breakthrough clean bowling one of the openers in his fifth over. With Heggarty having no success, Darren Stanton was introduced from the other end, and he immediately settled into an immaculate line and length with his well flighted off spinners. Indeed on a good batting strip and with short boundaries square of the wicket Stanton only conceded 18 runs off his 10 overs. He also picked up 2 wickets, with a good catch by Alan McKee at long on, and with an excellent take off a slightly wider ball by new wicket keeper Johnny Baxter.

Although Larne had now made in roads to Harlequins line-up, Simon Redpath, apparently in dispute with clubs first X1, still posed a major threat to Larnes chances. Described by team mates as “one of the best players in the country” he had already begun to counter attack strongly, hitting Hodge over the top for successive boundaries, when Hodge produced a caught and bowled that would not have looked out of place at any level of cricket. A dis–believing Redpath slowly walked off and with Quins 100 for 5 Larne looked to close out the tail as quickly as possible. Unfortunately the tail had other ideas and although Larne bowled well, especially the consistent line and length of Ken McKinley, some unorthodox hitting by Wilson allowed Quins to post a reasonable total of 175. Indeed had McIlhenny not bowled Wilson with 3 overs to go the total could have been over 200.

When Larne batted it was soon obvious that Redpath was also the dangerman with ball in hand as he removed both Larne openers. However, Larne as usual were batting aggressively and the scoreboard was moving freely as Alan McKee and Johnny Baxter forged an impressive third wicket partnership. Baxter was the more watchful of the pair and looked rock solid as McKee taking a few more chances rattled numerous boundaries. When Baxter was adjudged LBW, Larne were almost half way towards their target. Ken McKinley joined McKee at the crease and immediately looked in excellent form as they took Larne over the hundred by the drinks break. Quins were now running out of ideas and McKee and McKinley punished every loose or over pitched delivery, actually increasing the scoring rate as Larne passed the target with 17 overs to spare. McKee finished on 71 no with the rejuvenated McKinley on 27 no.