by Chris Pyper
The ever-salubrious and enchanting surroundings of Upritchard Park played host to Bangor’s most recent Section One fixture. The opponents on this occasion were Derriaghy, who, upon arrival, found that not even the cutting easterly breeze and threatening nimbostrati that accompanied them could dampen the splendour of the most elegant ground in the NCU.
They could, however, dampen the outfield, leading to a delayed start to proceedings and resulting in a reduced game of twenty-eight overs. Derriaghy won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that had remained well protected against the elements’ best efforts and looked every bit the typical UP highway.
This was not to deter the now-familiar Bangor opening bowling pair of Pyper and Farrell. Derriaghy showed early impetus, scoring at around a run a ball until midway through the third over, when Pyper claimed the first wicket. Bowling an off-cutter between bat and pad that careered into leg stump, dislodging the bails and removing Scott.
This brought overseas player Scoble to the crease, who took a moment to get going due to the tight lines of Farrell and Pyper. At the end of the opening spell, Derriaghy were 38–1, having been reined in by the continual discipline of the opening pair and the utmost dedication displayed by the fielding unit.
Harrison and Prince continued the disciplined bowling performance, trusting that the loose shot would come in the face of mounting pressure. In the thirteenth over, the pressure told as Harrison forced Derriaghy skipper Bailey to play an expansive straight shot to long-on against the turn of the ball. McMillan covered great ground to coolly take the catch that brought Bailey’s innings to an end.
Only two overs later, the same fate met Scoble, who launched a high ball that was duly taken by young Seb Yeates. The cantankerous Yeates threw the ball away in disgust, flabbergasted that it dared hurt his hand.
Bell and Lewis dug in to advance the innings, quelling the rising Bangor tide and securing a fifty partnership in the process. Simpson and Prince continued to toil as the score reached 138, until the disciplined pressure of the bowling unit told once more, Simpson removing Bell, bowled. Vicious rumours spread around the ground that Simpson had turned the ball, mainly purported by Simpson himself, and with the livestream shooting side-on, one must now take him at his word.
Pyper and Farrell returned at the death. Pyper claimed the wicket of Cairns, bowled, whilst also effecting a run-out the following over. In a remarkable display of commitment to preventing opposition runs, Angus Farrell slid across the hallowed Upritchard turf, taking out the Derriaghy batsman, who duly somersaulted over him in one of the bloopers of the season.
This was the second year in a row Farrell had produced a stellar fielding moment against Derriaghy. Many fans will fondly remember Angus, fuelled by an approach to the game of cricket akin to that of the Steinbeckian character “Lennie”, forgetting the simple rule of removing the bails to run out a batsman. If Angus keeps up the good work, then his moments of comedic gold, alongside his frighteningly tight off-spin, may well be what he is remembered for.
The total Bangor were left to chase in twenty-eight overs was 150. The familiarly youthful pairing of McMillan and Yeates strode out to open the Bangor account.
Yeates fell as an early victim to the overseas Scoble, edging a delivery bowled on a heavy length outside off stump. McMillan was joined by returning senior statesman Hutchinson, as the pair picked up where they had left off years prior. McMillan found success slapping the ball with fast hands to the boundary, accumulating three rope-crossers early in his innings. Meanwhile, Hutchinson rotated strike at will, forcing the bowlers to deliver their best ball every time.
Eventually, McMillan met his end attempting to hook a ball for six. Sam did not connect cleanly, instead clothing it to deep mid-wicket for twenty-nine.
At this point, Bangor were 57–2 and Brodie Harrison joined Hutchinson at the crease. If ever a batting pair were symbolic of chalk and cheese, it was these two: Hutchinson, a timeless caresser, nudger, and nurdler, whose innings was built upon discipline, graft, and sharp running between the wickets; Harrison, a belligerent advert for the modern game, whose innings found boundaries at will. When he hit a ball, it stayed hit.
Yet, in spite of their differing approaches, this would prove the decisive partnership of the game.
They brought up their fifty partnership in just thirty-eight deliveries as a relentless regime of running between the wickets ensued. Harrison also chose to have his way with the loose balls, threatening the garden furniture of our kindly neighbours. Not a day for sitting in the futon, by any stretch of the imagination.
Brodie brought up his fifty from just 31 deliveries as his fine form continued and the visitors were well and truly pacified. Ever the gentleman, Harrison consulted Hutchinson as to whether he wished him to leave enough runs on the board to make a fifty possible. When Hutchinson responded “no”, Harrison retorted, “Say less, bruva.”
The end of the game came quickly and without relent as Harrison hit multiple sixes and a carved single to secure a most clinical Bangor victory. The two heroes walked off to deserved applause, having secured Bangor’s fourth win from four in the league season.
The habits have been put in place, and Bangor seem determined not to let this rich run of form relent. Alas, the only time success comes before hard work is in the dictionary, and much remains to be done if Bangor are to continue performing at such a high level.
Cones must be bowled at, bowling machines faced, catches taken, rep by rep, by rep.
And if they do all that, our heroes may not always win pretty, but they will win often.
Something is brewing at our great club. Don’t be surprised if there is more to come.
Derriaghy 150-7 (28 overs, R Bailey 26, M Scoble 27, C Lewis 26, J Bell 34, C Pyper 2-23, B Harrison 2-29)
Bangor 151-2 (22.5 overs, S McMillan 29, M Hutchinson 41*, B Harrison 64*)
Bangor beat Derriaghy by 8 wickets
