Laurelvale 3rds v Larne 5ths
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This season, for the first time, Larne Cricket Club has five teams competing. The newly formed fifth eleven is playing in NCU Division 3 Section 5, and seeks to blend youth and experience in team selection.
Following a narrow defeat at Downpatrick in the opening match of the season, the team travelled to Lurgan last Saturday to play Laurelvale III’s.
Larne lost the toss and were put into bat on what proved to be a difficult pitch to score runs. Wicket-keeper Craig Smith and club stalwart Esler Burke opened the batting and made a very solid start to the innings. Indeed Burke was the top scorer batting through most of the innings to score 33 before being bowled by Foster. Johnny Graham played a superb knock in the middle-order scoring 30 before being run out. Andrew King, Frank Parkinson and John Hunter all contributed with the bat to get Larne to a very competitive total of 114 for 6 after their 40 overs.
The young, talented Larne bowling attack soon had Laurelvale under pressure and they never looked like getting close to the Larne total. Opening bowlers King and Steven Saunderson finished their 8 over spells conceding only 16 runs each. Andrew McGarel and team captain John Hood took 5 wickets between them conceding only 7 runs each. The bowling attack was helped by excellent spells from Cameron Ruys and Dean McDonagh with all the Larne team, including twelfth-man Richard Hood, supporting each other and working hard in the field to ensure few runs were scored.
Overall it was a great team effort limiting Laurelvale to 57 for 7 after their 40 overs securing the first win for Larne by a comfortable 57 run margin
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