Donaghadee v Larne - Wednesday 14th July 2004 |
Mixed results for Fourths Larne's Fourth xi played two league matches over the holiday period in preparation for their cup-semi final on Saturday. Both matches involved long drives, firstly to Donaghadee and then to Armagh, and the team recorded one victory and one defeat despite the inclement weather. The results leave them on top of the league, although having lost three matches they could still be overtaken by some of the other sides who have not completed as many fixtures. They have now won six of their nine matches, it will be up to the other teams to arrange and play all their fixtures in a bid to overtake Larne. Against Donaghadee Thirds Larne won the toss and elected to bat on a green looking wicket. This questionable decision was undoubtedly influenced by the previous match between the sides in May, in which Larne triumphed by ten-wickets. With an even stronger team on paper today, Larne were confident of an easy victory. This match though was to be played on a damp pitch which was now drying in the sun, a rare example of a genuine sticky wicket. Larne soon slumped to a dismal 12-4, with Parker causing problems for all the batsmen as he dismissed three of the top order. There were several small explosions in the vicinity of the pavilion when Burke was adjudged lbw to a ball that appeared to have pitched outside leg-stump, but the younger members of the team ignored these noisy and ill-tempered distractions and set about reviving the situation with commendable confidence. William Graham top scored with a fine 33, and Andrew King also prospered with a fine 23. Their partnership of 54 turned the innings around, and when the dynamic Jonathan Graham added a speedy 21 not out, Larne had recovered to 114-8 in the 30th over. Cameron Ruys and Steven Morton added some valuable runs for the last wickets and Larne eventually were dismissed for 134 in the 33rd over. William Graham though was not finished yet, and he grabbed three wickets with the new ball to put Larne on top. Neil Hodge, who has now returned to bowling leg-spin much to the delight of the purists at the club, produced a good spell and Andrew King confirmed his reputation as the most reliable of young all-rounders by picking up two good wickets as Donaghadee subsided to 76 all out in the 20th over, leaving Larne comfortable but fortunate victors. |
