A Disappointing Week but Plenty of Positives to Take
8 min read
Bangor vs Ballymena – 5th June
Bangor welcomed Ballymena to Upritchard Park on a blustery Thursday evening for a T20 rearrangement of their rained off league fixture. Ballymena won the toss and elected to bat and gain the early impetus against the Bangor bowling attack.
Pyper and Chhabra opened the bowling, as the trademark aggression of the Ballymena openers Willoughby and Deelman led them to a start which included multiple boundaries. However, Deelman’s success would be short-lived as Pyper nipped one away outside the off stump into the welcoming grasp of Kirkpatrick behind the stumps, as Ballymena fell to 17-1. In his second over, Pyper applied pressure to Glass, who had just arrived at the crease, resulting in Glass clumsily attacking one and spooning it up to Zach Kerr at mid-off. An athlete and cricketer of Kerr’s calibre standing underneath the ball was a sight for sore eyes. There was no doubt he would take this catch and secure Pyper his second, it would take a miracle to drop it. Alas, a miracle arrived as the ball slipped through Kerr’s grasps and fell to the ground. Kerr’s blushes were spared, as Jonny Parker took the approach of “if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself” taking the catch cooly at point as Glass departed for three.
Ballymena toiled away for a few overs longer, picking up boundaries off the bad balls and gaining singles where they could. Young Myles McNaught was brought on for the Bangor side, a young Freddie Flintoff like player, but with a much more relaxed demeanour. He would not shirk under the pressure as he got Ballymena’s star man Willoughby. Mark Hutchinson rolled back the years in the process, leaping like a lion in search of its next meal, and after landing he hobbled like one in need of a hip replacement. Nonetheless, Bangor had their man and Ballymena were 65-3. Will Simpson grabbed the next wicket an over later, floating one up that was duly hit into the air and intercepted by George Prince.
It was then Prince himself who would take centre stage. Guilefully nipping the ball about as if it were on a string and he was a puppet master manipulating its every move, as he saw fit. First he removed Caithness bowled and shortly after Matthew Dick was caught behind. Not to be outdone, Chhabra returned to claim a brace of his own first Dick was caught behind and then he removed Bristow who had anchored the innings up to this point. Pyper returned for the final over of the innings claiming a wicket bowled by a Yorker and only conceding one run. This left the visitors’ total at 136-9 after their twenty overs.
The Bangor reply began shakily with early wickets falling at regular intervals. Sam McMillan was the first to go, out bowled from the bowling of Deelman. Kirkpatrick followed shortly after caught in the slips of the bowling of Dick. Finally, another promising start, this time from Jonny Parker, was brought to an end bowled by Deelman once again. Bangor were now 19-3 and struggling.
This meant Adam McCusker and Mark Hutchinson were now at the crease. The two men toiled and tussled their way towards the Ballymena total. It was an example to any young cricketer of valuing your wicket and digging in as a batsman when your teams needs you. McCusker brought his 50 up in a breezy 35 balls and Bangor were cruising at 106-3 in the 14th over. Ultimately, disaster would strike. In the last ball of the over, McCusker looked to add another maximum, striking the ball powerfully, it seemed destined for the rope. That was until Willoughby’s welcoming arms plucked the pill out of the air and sent McCusker back to the pavilion, albeit after a stellar knock to bring Bangor into the game.
Last balls appeared to be a curse, this time Hutchinson was removed for 30. He too was trying to up the rate, but didn’t catch all of it and now the capable lower order had a job to do. Chhabra fell next, also trying to go big. Followed by Simpson who was bowled for Deelman’s third wicket. Kerr and McNaught were then trying to run hard for two, resulting in a McNaught run out and finally, George Prince was bowled in the penultimate over. It all happened so quickly and left Bangor reeling. Kerr and Pyper were now at the crease, requiring 12 off the final over, as overseas Deelman was on 3 wickets already and on a tear. Kerr tried to work the ball to the short boundary, but in doing so was bowled resulting in a Bangor loss by 12 runs.
This one hurt. Bangor and been cruising, but missed out on a win, mostly due to their own folly. There is a team that are knocking on the door of greatness, that have a talent that is indisputable and a spirit that is indefatigable. This was a tough day, but not a day that will define them. However, it may just be the making of them.
Donacloney Mill vs Bangor – 7th June
Bangor 1st XI had a double header this weekend against Donaghcloney Mill and Co. Laois respectively. Starting on the road to Donaghcloney Mill, lessened availability meant opportunities were afforded to other players looking to put their best foot forward and give the selectors headaches.
Judd Markham, the Donaghcloney overseas, was belligerent in his opening attack hitting bowlers to all parts of the ground. The Bangor bowling attack were steadfast in their efforts, without a single head dropping at any point in the game. Markham’s innings came to an end when young Daniel Rayner tempted him into a lofted shot that was cooly taken by Pyper in the covers. When Markham was removed from the crease, Donaghcloney were 173-1. The ensuing Bangor fight back was something to behold. The rest of the Donaghcloney team were 98-7 for the remainder of the innings. Pyper took 3, whilst Prince and Simpson both took braces. The endeavour shown by Chhabra was admirable and deserved a wicket, particularly given how well he performed in the face of Markham’s destructive hitting. ‘Cloney ended up on 266-8 at the end of a truncated 41 over game due to rain delays.
The Bangor reply got off to a shaky start with the early wicket of Jonny Parker. Hutchinson and McCullough continued to accumulate until Hutchinson was removed for 18 with McCullough falling shortly after. Kirkpatrick gave Bangor a glimmer of hope batting admirably and attacking the bad ball for all it is worth. When Patterson retired hurt, Chhabra joined Kirkpatrick at the crease and the two gleaned runs from each part of the ground, as they looked to attack the home side’s total. Kirkpatrick was removed by an excellent catch in the deep just short of his fifty and rightfully received plaudits for his performance.
Chhabra continued the assault on the total with a belligerent barrage of blows that sent the ball over the boundary. Devastatingly, he too fell short of his fifty, when a shot he blocked unfortunately rolled into his stumps, dislodging the bails. There was little resistance remaining in the Bangor innings as wickets fell regularly, but the main event of the day remained. Donaghcloney gained the honour of being the first team to dismiss Chris Pyper this season, not before he could time some trademark on drives. Pyper was out caught for three, missing out on his maiden century by an agonising 97 runs and leaving George Prince stranded on 5.
Bangor vs Laois – 8th June
The second game of the weekend came in the Irish national cup, as Bangor handed two debutants their inaugural first team caps. Young Felix McMillan, aged just 14, earned his first cap and was presented it by his father. McMillan has a bright future ahead of him and is just the latest addition of McMillan first team players at the club. The second debutant, Ian Butler, was slightly more senior in years. Ian had received his ‘Blackcap’ from Martin Crowe on test debut for his native New Zealand, however reports around the ground indicated that Ian was spotted wiping away tears, as after years of long practices, grinding at lower levels and sacrificing family events; he had reached the pinnacle of our great game, earning a Bangor CC cap.
Bangor lost the toss and were inserted to bat in overcast conditions. Jonny Parker was removed caught at point early in the innings bringing the debutant McMillan to the crease. Felix looked comfortable in his first appearance carving a four through the covers. He was unlucky not to get more runs as he was caught on the edge of the ring. This is no doubt the first of many innings to come for the first eleven. Adam McCusker and McCullough continued to accumulate running well and adding a lusty blow when necessary. McCullough departed for a well made 36 in the 21st over leaving Bangor 93-3. McCusker looked set for another half century before he was removed a mere over later as Butler and Chhabra arrived at the crease.
The cool composure of Butler and iconoclastic approach of Chhabra’s approach to batting served as the perfect tonic for one another. A mix up at the crease led to the spikeless Butler falling over and being ran out in the damp conditions. He was followed by Chhabra a few overs later and Bangor found themselves 154-6. Kerr was the last significant contributor with a well made 17 in his fourth game that week, stating his claim as clubman of the year. The innings ended with a controversial run out of Daniel Rayner, who was looking in great nick heading into the final couple of overs, as Bangor were all out for 175.
Laois weathered an early storm of swing from Chhabra and Pyper. The total progressed to 93 without loss until young Rayner claimed an outstanding caught and bowled off of a swirling high ball. Rayner’s bowling provided the catalyst for the innings spurring on his teammates to attack the remaining Laois batsmen. Pyper picked up 3 wickets in an energetic return spell with a Jonny Parker run out adding to the pressure.
Angus Farrell’s economical bowling earned him a great wicket caught at short third man and Chhabra reaped the rewards of skilful bowling with an LBW shout to pick up his first wicket. Unfortunately, the purple patch came too little too late as Laois squeaked over the line to advance to the next round.
During a week which many may see as a disappointment, there are so many positives. Individuals who stepped up when called upon, an attitude that was second to none and a togetherness that few teams could rival. Better days are ahead for this Bangor side, as the talent is immeasurable and desire is great within the side. The journey continues next week on the road to Armagh, but regardless of any result; it is better to be a Bangor man than anything else in the world.
