Larne v Dunmurry - Saturday 28th August 2004 |
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On Saturday 28th August, Larne Second XI, sponsored by Rainey and Gregg, Property and Mortgage Centre, Ballymena, defeated Dunmurry II by 50 runs in League Division 2 Section 2. On winning the toss an understrength Dunmurry side asked Larne to bat first another soft Sandy Bay wicket. Local restaurateur Sha Ali Murad has been in great form this year ,for the Seconds, and he looked right at his best, from the first ball of the match, as anything pitched up was driven with tremendous power down the ground. Scott Allen provided good support at the other end and within 10 overs, Larne were already over the fifty mark. When Murad and Allen were out for 41 and 16 respectively, they were quickly followed by Burke, bringing Dunmurry back into the match. Ryan Hamill and Kenny McKinley batted sensibly to take Larne up to 90, before McKinley was caught in the covers for 12 after mis-timing a drive. At this point Larne needed another good partnership if they were going to set a decent total and Hamill and Jonathon King took on the responsibility. With Dunmurry’s skipper bowling well, Hamill played within himself, and took most of the strike from that end allowing King to take on the spinners at the other end. Hamill was eventually dismissed for 22. When King was then run-out for 39, followed next ball by Stanton, Dunmurry had again brought themselves back into the game. The skipper then called for a crazy single to run-out Andy King and Larne were in danger on not batting the overs. Young Jonathon Graham had other ideas however, and when he hit his first ball for 3 through the covers his skipper knew he could have full confidence in the youngster with no farming of the strike required. Both players batted sensibly through the last 5 overs taking Larne up to a solid 178. Jonathon King and Kenny McKinley opened the bowling for larne knowing that a good line and length would probably be enough on a slow paced pitch and a slow outfield. Both bowled superbly with McKinley posting the outstanding figures of 2 for 10 in his 10 over spell. When King was rested after 5 overs, Darren Stanton was introduced to bowl his off-spinners and he picked up where King had left off with excellent line and length bowling. At this point Larne had restricted Dunmurry to 23 for 2 after 18 overs and to some extent the match had already slipped away, as the pressure to score quickly later on would be extremely difficult if Larne bowled accurately. Youngsters Andy King and Andy McGarel were introduced to replace Stanton and McKinley and both struck in their first overs to leave Dunmurry really struggling on 65 for 4 after 31 overs. Andy King was particularly unlucky not to pick up another wicket in his 8 over spell as he repeatedly beat the bat and will certainly be an option for the Seconds next season if he continues to progress. With overs running out Jonathon King, was re-introduced to the attack along with Ryan Hamill, and as Dunmurry attacked in desperation, both bowlers held their nerve with Hamill picking up 3 wickets and King again unlucky only to claim one, as Larne eased home with 50 runs to spare. Special mention should also be given to young Jonathon Graham who kept superbly throughout the innings in very difficult conditions. Scorecard:- |
