Simpson Gets Under It to get Bangor Over the Line
6 min read
Bangor travelled up the road for their first away game of the season against Derriaghy. Historically, Queensway has been something of a fortress in section one, with its large slope challenging bowlers lengths and oddly shaped boundaries leading to many a running mixup. In short, a tall task faced our Bangorian heroes today and of the back of defeating there opponents in the challenge cup a week prior, they would be facing a team who were desperate to make amends.
Bangor won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to restrict their opponents and have a modest total for their batsmen to aim at. Manav Chhabra and Connor Brown were the right hand-left hand combination. Brisbane Heat mega-fan Connor Brown would make the break through, doing his best Jason Behrendorff impression and castling the opener with a sublime in-swinging yorker.
The Derriaghy batsmen toiled for a few overs longer. Brown and Chhabra seemingly had the ball on a string, with movement, speed and control in full display. Chhabra was rewarded for his efforts in the 7th over, bowling Bailey with a delightful inswinger that rearranged the furniture. Derriaghy were 27-2 and Bangor felt they were in control. Lewis, the new batsman in plundered a ball to the boundary with his first ball. Then a stroke of genius occurred. Pyper instantly sensed that Chhabra had the upper hand on Lewis and like any good team man he acted. With Lewis at the non-striker’s end, the other Derriaghy batsman hit a shot destined for a single and leaving Lewis off strike for Chhabra’s over. Pyper could not have this, allowing the ball to go for four in a tactical masterclass, leaving Lewis on strike and opening the gate wide for Chhabra to strike and strike he did. Bowling another patented inswinger, Lewis looked to strike with a big shot, but the stump was uprooted and the master plan was complete. A pure display of the high performance was unfolding before everybody’s eyes.
Two overs later, Chhabra picked up his third wicket of the day as the opener Beckett skied the ball loosely into the stratosphere. Catching fire on its descent the ball was careering to dead space. Kirkpatrick made stellar yards, looking like a cheetah on the hunt for his next meal and the only thing which will sustain a creature such as this is removing batsmen. Kirkpatrick easily pouched the ball and received his spoils, Bangor had Derriaghy 45-4.
At this point, overseas player Renco Adams was at the crease for the home side and began to shepherd the innings. Drawn into a few loose shots and edges early doors with the ball falling agonisingly short of fielders on each occasion. With the final delivery of the 15th over, Pyper came down the slope and gained his first scalp of the day. Delivering an in swinger, Kinnin played around the ball as it careered into middle and leg. A few overs later, a knuckleball from Pyper which dipped and nipped and claimed the edge of Cairnduff and was routinely taken by Kirkpatrick had Derriaghy 124-6.
At this stage spin entered the game on a slow wicket, Simpson and Farrell were steadfast in their dedication to the cause. Revolutions of the ball could be heard from the boundary as both men sought to gain the match-changing wicket of Adams. Continuing to control the strike, Adams was operating at a boundary an over. Again, not without half chances that fell agonisingly short. It all seemed to suggest that it may be the South African’s day. In the mean time Simpson and Farrell both picked up wickets caught and caught and bowled respectively.
Adams continued to make use of the short downhill boundary and would bring up his ton from 96 balls, trying with all his might to single-handedly bring Derriaghy back into the game. A matter of overs later, he was clean bowled and the Derriaghy innings came to an end at 211 all out several overs shy of the 50 over mark.
Special mention must go to Farrell’s stellar figures of 9.2-3-12-3, which steadied the ship and restricted the home side’s total.
Two Jonnys, Keenan and Parker respectively, opened for Bangor. The innings got off to a shaky start with both openers being removed within the first three overs. Keenan clean bowled by Cairns in the second over and Parker caught at fine leg.
McCullough and Kirkpatrick were now at the crease reminiscent of an Ulster schools team from a few decades ago. Kirkpatrick set about taking advantage of a good pitch and short boundaries, upping the rate and taking it to the home attack. Disaster struck for McCullough in the 6th over as he was removed after a dogged effort, Bangor were now 26-3 and staring down the barrel. Adam McCusker joined Kirkpatrick on the battleground. Returning to cricket after a year’s absence, McCusker had not lost any of his mental toughness, soaking up pressure and reapplying it to the opposition. In the 12th over Kirkpatrick was unlucky, missing out on a full toss he was declared out LBW and with that Connor Brown was brought to the crease.
McCusker and Brown ran well and punished the bad ball. The partnership seemed to build and build but was stunted in its progress. McCusker hit what seemed to be another delightful and powerful shot. Adams, however, intent on dragging aghy to victory, dove to his right and plucked the ball out of the air, removing a man who seemed to be in the most stellar of form.
Chhabra joined his fellow Aussie at the crease, a symbol of just how deep this Bangor batting lineup goes. He was the aggressor plundering sixes and fours. At the other end guileful sweeps and sumptuous strokemaking from Brown made it appear as if the spirit of the GABBA had made its way to County Antrim. The hundred came up and with it Bangor hopes were restored. The two seemed to be motoring and the home side were forced to bring Adams back into the attack. Chhabra was duly removed with his first ball for a fine 26. Bangor were now 123-6 and momentum had shifted.
A dark cloud overcame the ground, a piece of pathetic fallacy perhaps symbolising the dashing of Bangor’s hopes. With just under a hundred runs to get and few wickets remaining the task was a tall one. Alas, a beam of light appeared, shining forth onto a young man of great renown – William Simpson. The clouds parted and one of Bangor’s most fabled and infamous sons took guard at the crease. What ensued was preternatural.
Crossing the boundary like a Roman at the Rubicon, Simpson took the guard and had one objective in mind “getting under the ball”. It was a miraculous partnership with belligerent ball battering by Bangor’s boisterous batsmen. Brown moving along steadily, Simpson playing with a freedom of a man who backed himself and believed he was the answer. The 50 partnership came up at just under a run a ball, but 3 runs later a chink in the armour showed as Brown was bolwed by Hughes.
Perhaps Simpson would begin to slow? The loss of Brown would hurt his flow and confidence? Perhaps not. The crash, bang and wallop of onomatopoeic joy rang around the ground, as Simpson marched onwards. The final runs of the innings were scored via another straight six, as Simpson held his arms aloft after a dominant display, like a man at the pinnacle of the game he loves.
Bangor chased 211 in 39 overs, Simpson finished on 65 off 48 balls, but in spite of his brilliance it does not define this victory. This victory is defined by the even spread of wickets, the contributions of the middle order, the diligence with which each man approached their duty in the field – a team effort.
Bangor are off the mark in the league in the most dramatic of circumstances. With a cup weekend coming up, the club are in a good spot and supporters have much to be hopeful for. Alas, forgetting the individual performances and the wins that are collected along the way, there is something greater at hand. A team, who love their club and each other and will fight to the dogged end. What does one call a team such as this, Bangor.
