Men’s 1XI Complete 3Peat with Third T20 Cup Competition Win |

Bangor crowned champions with final victory over Cregagh/McMillan brilliance brings Cup home for Bangor

The Lawn at Warringstown CC was the venue for the final of the NCU T20 Trophy and by the time the toss had come around the Mid-Ulster ground was already filling up with Bangor supporters. The coin fell the way of Cregagh and captain Graeme Hassard had no hesitation to bowl first. Bangor with the old adage ringing that runs on the board in a final is always a good thing were not too deflated with the outcome. So it was over Andrew Kirkpatrick and Samuel McMillan to lead the Bangor side out and get the innings off and running. Cregagh, with Watt and Cooper started well and kept the Bangor batsmen quiet for the opening couple of overs. Entering the third over Cregagh would have been very happy with their start, queue Sam McMillan. It was from this point that the prodigious talent of the young Bangor opener took over and changed the course of the final. All of a sudden the ball was finding the boundary with great regularity and Bangor had begun to dominate the early rounds of this championship bout. Bangor lost opener Kirkpatrick but instead of any momentary halt in the run-rate (as Cregagh would have desired) it further accelerated the innings. McMillan was joined by the experienced Ian Butler who bludgeoned 21 off 9 balls and further cemented the Bangor position. His dismissal brought to the crease Connor Brown and this pair batted with guile and skill to advance the score to 117. Brown was dismissed for a very well made 30. Shortly after the main stay of the Bangor innings was also dismissed. McMillan’s brilliance came to an end in the 16th over having scored 62 off 40 balls and providing the platform for his team. The innings kept pace and a strong finish from saw the Bangor side reach 166 for 7. The runs were now on the board in a final.

The Bangor bowling innings couldn’t have got off to a better start with Brown dismissing the dangerous McCormack in the first over. This was followed by an excellent run out from opening bowling pair Brown and Skelly, who combined to remove Hunter and leave their side firmly on the front foot. A good partnership between Jonny Moore and Bob Moore give the chasing innings some stability, but accurate bowling and good field placings never allowed the boundaries required to come with any regularity. Following the powerplay the Bangor side remained disciplined and managed to contain their East Belfast opponents well. Spin bowling duo Will Simpson and pick of the bowlers Angus Farrell (2-17) combined for 7 overs for 37 runs and ultimately put an end to the contest. Cregagh finished on 128, leaving the Bangor side to claim the trophy with a 38-run victory. This is Bangor’s third T20 cup success in a row demonstrating an excellent understanding of the format.

Bangor would like to thank Warringstown CC for hosting a great Final’s Day and also to all the supporters who travelled and made it even more of an occasion.