by Chris Pyper
Bangor vs Saintfield – Challenge Cup – Saturday 2nd May
Cricketmas was upon us once again. Bags packed, spikes on, and souls transfixed on the cricketing summer ahead accompanied our Bangorian heroes upon their arrival at the ground. It was an unusual start, as this year’s first fixture was in the prestigious Challenge Cup. Today’s opponents were Saintfield, new boys in the league but not to be scoffed at, as they possessed quality throughout their ranks.
Saintfield won the toss and elected to bat first, obviously understanding that Upritchard Park exclusively plays host to pitches that are, to put it modestly, batter-friendly.
Prince and Pyper opened the bowling against Saintfield overseas player Brand, who was belligerent in his approach to the opening bowling, swinging at will with no consideration given to a leave, nudge, nor nurdle. He found the boundary six times in quick succession, bringing his total to 34 until Angus Farrell was brought into the attack.
Brand attempted to paddle Farrell around the corner but sent the ball into orbit in the direction of Josh Bates. The ball descended with a velocity that challenged the sound barrier, but no hesitancy would overcome Bates, who snared the catch and removed the danger man, much to the delight of his compatriots.
Shortly after, Pyper removed number three McCavera for a first-ball duck, nipping one off the seam that once again went high into the air into the welcoming hands of Kirkpatrick this time. Harrison and Murray steadied the ship for a period until the exuberance of Bangor’s (and potentially the world’s) foremost cricket lover, Josh Bates, led to Harrison sending the ball down George Prince’s throat, as Bangor defied the early pressure the Senior League One new boys had applied.
At this juncture, Saintfield were 93–3, and Bangor would not relinquish control. Farrell’s disciplined bowling drew him the just reward of a second wicket, McNeilly playing the ball to Parker at short mid-wicket from a leading edge, likely due to the sheer weight of Farrell’s aura at the other end of the strip.
Immediately after, Josh Bates uprooted middle stump for his second wicket with a trademark reserved celebration that was as understated as you’d expect from such an admirer of the gentleman’s game. TJ McCavera and Krishali attempted something of a rebuild, soaking up dots in an attempt to stop the collapse that seemed to be brewing. They brought the visitors’ total to 134–5 until overseas player Brodie Harrison finally reached the Everest of his cricketing career, claiming his first Bangor wicket as McCavera was stumped by Kirkpatrick off a delivery whose revolutions could be audibly identified from the Bloomfield Road Roundabout.
Brodie had heard tell of this cricketing Mecca for years from his native Auckland, dreaming that one day he might get the chance to ply his trade on the hallowed turf of Upritchard Park. One can only imagine the pride and joy his family, friends, and clubmates must feel that one of their own has had the opportunity to grace the same pitch that legends of the game, like Will Simpson, have once called their home.
Dreams becoming reality was a real theme for the Bangor innings, as patrons were treated to a middle-overs masterclass from Ian Butler. The ex-international donned some striking shades for his dominant bowling spell, as if Neo from The Matrix films had fancied a quiet North Down retirement plan.
It was Butler’s Matrix-like control of the ball that proved the perfect method for dismantling the rest of the Saintfield batting order. First, he removed Krishali with the most stunning of change-ups, allowing Kirkpatrick to showcase his stellar glovework once again as he completed the stumping. Soon after, Sofley was the next victim, as Butler’s mind tricks seemed to beseech the ball to jag in and trap the batsman’s front pad leg before wicket. Finally, a scintillating quicker delivery was enough to draw a fine edge from Hanna, which was dutifully caught by Prince at first slip, giving Butler his third wicket. Butler finished with figures of 5–1–6–3 and has set a stunning precedent for the season ahead.
How fitting that, in the first competitive game of the year, the final wicket would belong to the prodigal son, Sebastian Yates. Seb had spent years sojourning at CSNI, wondering if he would ever have the opportunity to return to the home of cricket again. You could feel the sense of anticipation around the ground as Seb, transfixed on the task at hand, drew the faintest of edges from Gordon to end the Saintfield innings, gaining high fives and adulation from his new teammates. Perhaps in moments like this, it is true what Maya Angelou said: “The ache for home lives in all of us.”
Saintfield finished on 162 all out, and after the break McMillan and Yeates were the two batsmen tasked with getting Bangor off to a winning start.
Hope was high on the sidelines to begin with, until McMillan was dismissed by an outstanding delivery from Krishali, which jagged in, forcing him to chop on and leave Bangor 9–1 in just the second over. Brodie Harrison joined Yeates at the crease, and the two set about building a foundation. Knowing it was a low target to chase on a typically flat UP wicket, the pair were in no rush and sensibly weathered the early opening storm.
They brought up a 50 partnership in 82 balls, marked by a maturity beyond their years, allowing nerves to settle around the ground for the Bangor faithful. In the fifteenth over, Yeates seemed keen to increase the strike rate, but in doing so attempted to slog sweep Hanna to the leg side. Unfortunately, Seb did not catch all of it and was caught excellently by a backtracking Gordon on the edge of the ring for 27. It was a promising display from a young man with much more to offer.
Harrison was joined by McCusker, who had a brief cameo full of energy and promise but was bowled by Hanna as he looked to continually rotate strike. Then came the defining partnership of the match.
Crash! Bang! Wallop! was the onomatopoeia of the day, as Harrison decided that the roofs of the neighbouring houses were now his mortal enemies. Anything short was duly punished, and after setting himself, Harrison was intent on inflicting maximum damage to his surroundings, bringing up his fifty and moving on to 72 not out at the close of play.
Equally vituperative in his treatment of the ball was Kirkpatrick. The wicketkeeper-batsman was not to be outdone, striking two fours and three sixes on his way to 43 not out at just under a run a ball. What a joy it was to watch the two bat underneath the beating Bangorian sun, and what sweet sorrow it was to part from such an experience, as Kirkpatrick sent the ball careering to the boundary for four to end the game.
Bangor advanced to the next round of the Challenge Cup, where they will have the honour of playing Premier League new boys Laurelvale.
More importantly, this performance bodes well for the forthcoming league campaign. Challenges were faced, persistence displayed, and at times dominance was the only word to describe Bangor’s performance. The thing that should inspire the reader of this report is as follows: their best is yet to come.
Saintfield 162 (34.5 overs, W Brand 36, R Murray 26. G Harrison 27, A Farrell 2-42, J Bates 2-18, I Butler 3-6)
Bangor 166-3 (32.3 overs, S Yeates 27, B Harrison 72*, A Kirkpatrick 43*, E Hanna 2-28)
Bangor beat Saintfield by 7 wickets
Donacloney Mill vs Bangor – Mercury Section 1 – Monday 4th May
Bangor commenced their Senior League One campaign on the road to Donacloney Mill for a mouth-watering Bank Holiday Monday encounter. Bangor arrived with a quiet sense of confidence but knew that there were no easy wins when playing the Mid-Ulster side. ‘Cloney won the toss and elected to bat, aiming to take advantage of home conditions by putting a competitive total on the board.
Pyper and Prince claimed the early scalps of the openers Kennedy and Warren, caught at point and mid-wicket respectively, as the total moved to 31–2. This was due in large part to Pyper being bamboozled by the left-hand, right-hand partnership, so much so that he bowled a perfect delivery for a right-hander to a lefty for five wides.
This brought overseas player Aitken and local Matthews to the crease. They were clinical in partnership, with Aitken taking the lead and finding the boundary rope with some classy stroke play. When Brodie Harrison was brought into the attack, it seemed that all hung in the balance, as he used his trademark ripping leg spin and funky field placements to induce a stray shot from the set batsmen. Working in tandem with Farrell, the pressure eventually told. Harrison got a ball to grip just enough to outwit Aitken, and after a moment’s deliberation, the umpire ruled him LBW. The danger man was gone. In a stunning case of déjà vu, Matthews met the same fate in Harrison’s next over, as he too was trapped LBW by an excellently placed wrong’un.
At this stage, the man that middle orders fear most entered the attack: the notorious Ian Butler, aura farming in ways Angus Farrell could only dream of. Butler began his conquest by removing Joshua Hall, bowled for a duck, and Alex Ogle soon met the same fate. Butler’s overs that followed were tight, yet somehow remained wicketless despite several close calls.
Donacloney were not about to give up so easily on home soil, and Goodbarn and Kennedy performed admirably in rebuilding the innings from 123–6 to taking them beyond the 200 mark. Goodbarn’s luck seemed to have run out as Pyper bowled the ball of a lifetime, pitching middle and leg and hitting the top of off stump. However, such a delivery was too good to be true, as it appeared to have been bowled from twenty yards back, and the umpire’s arm went up for a no-ball.
The partnership’s luck would eventually run out as George Prince struck twice in quick succession, removing Kilpatrick, caught by Butler, who dived low to claim a catch by his ankles, defying the wearying wear and tear of time to aid his teammate’s efforts. Soon after, Prince took his third wicket, removing ‘Cloney skipper Lyttle, bowled.
Goodbarn’s admirable resistance ended for 46 as Farrell received just rewards for his steadfast bowling effort, claiming a caught-and-bowled for double fantasy points. The home side’s innings finally came to an end as Pyper claimed his second wicket, removing Stevenson, caught behind by Kirkpatrick, who took the catch at chest height—either proving it was a stunning display of skill or that he is a rather diminutive grown man.
Yeates and McMillan strode out to bat in reply, aiming to put on an opening stand that would set up their teammates for success in this first league chase of the season. The two wasted no time, finding the boundary off the bad balls and guilefully rotating the strike when the good balls challenged them. In the blink of an eye, their fifty partnership was reached in just nine overs. One hopes this is the first of many such partnerships in the annals of Bangor cricket.
Yeates looked set and immovable until, attempting to sweep Little down the hill, he was given out LBW. Again, such promise was shown by a young man who fears no bowler in the league. In Yeates’ absence, McMillan remained undeterred, bringing up his fifty in just 39 deliveries after being joined by Harrison at the crease. “Hugsy” seemed eager to get back to youth training, as each ball was crunched with disdain. He launched another ball into orbit that seemed destined for safety until, commendably, the Donacloney fielder backtracked and removed the prized wicket for 19, leaving Bangor on 107–2.
Butler joined McMillan at the crease and showed no signs of slowing the pace. Two sixes and a four were supplied by the Director of Cricket, who was like a duck to water at the unfamiliar hunting patch of the Factory Ground. He raced to a run-a-ball 21 before unfortunately holing out off Matthews, bringing Saturday’s “finisher” Kirkpatrick to the crease.
Throughout this period, McMillan had been steadfast in his pursuit of the target, with stroke play that had people questioning whether they were watching the real Sunil Gavaskar and not the player affectionately known as the gluten-free Gavaskar.
With drives in abundance and a cut shot seemingly a penny a dozen, McMillan showed his class. He approached the nervous nineties, but no such nerves occupied a man of his calibre. Blissfully, McMillan pierced the gap and raced to his first century of the year off a blistering 83 deliveries. What a special knock it was, as the young man proved himself once more to be a talisman in the Bangor ranks.
You’d be forgiven for forgetting Kirkpatrick was at the crease with him after such a lengthy passage on McMillan’s century. However, rest assured no one at the ground was unaware of Kirkpatrick’s contribution. The North-West blow-in showed none of the agricultural batting style of his youth, carving the ball through the tiniest of gaps and even adding a maximum to keep his adoring fans entertained. The innings ended in a flourish as Kirkpatrick hit consecutive fours to bring up an unbeaten half-century and, vitally, chase down the Donacloney total of 238 in a mere 34 overs—staggering stuff.
What a beginning to the year. Two from two in competitive cricket, the gryphon roaring as it truly ought to, and a team who looked to the man beside them with the utmost confidence that he would do his job. Sights now turn to the T20 trophy defence that begins on Thursday night against Cregagh. However, this is not a victory to be glossed over. Belief is high on the Gold Coast, more is to come, and there can be no doubt: a Bangor team playing with confidence is a team to be feared.
Donacloney Mill 238 (47.5 overs, L Aitken 66, R Matthews 36, N Kilpatrick 30, L Goodbarn 46, C Pyper 2-52, G Prince 3-43, B Harrison 2-38, I Butler 2-29)
Bangor 242-3 (34.4 overs, S McMillan 109*, S Yeates 25, I Butler 21, A Kirkpatrick 51*, M Lyttle 2-45)
Bangor beat Donacloney Mill by 7 wickets
