After last weeks demolition job of Downpatrick the week prior, Bangor returned to Upritchard Park looking to match up their by in large recent good performances with positive results. The ground was in fantastic condition and a great game was in prospect between two fairly well matched teams. Bangor won the toss and elected to bat first and make use of a hard and flat wicket.
Opening duo Mark Hutchinson & Sam McMillan strode out looking to make a positive start. It was the visitors though that made the better start as they were able to stifle any run scoring in the opening overs with the first boundary not coming until the 6th over and the score on 17 but disaster would strike next ball as McMillan looked to find the boundary again but was out caught. Connor Brown joined Hutchinson out in the middle but shortly after Hutchinson was back in the pavilion out caught off the impressive bowling of Liebenberg. The inform skipper Johnny Parker now joined Brown who was starting to hit his stride with some great stroke making. Just as he was getting going however he was adjudged what looked harshly LBW with the ball hitting him in the thigh guard. Another wicket fell early doors with Adam McCusker another victim of Liebenberg bringing Andrew Kirkpatrick to the crease.
Parker and Kirkpatrick would form a handy partnership that was steadying the Bangor ship somewhat but just as that was flourishing Kirkpatrick was dismissed to what looked like another tight LBW decision. Ex New Zealand international Ian Butler joined Parker with the score 74-5 in the 20th over. The hard hitting Butler though would be dismissed looking to apply pressure back on to the hosts after the drinks break bringing Angus Farrell to the crease. Parker was dogged in his innings as he tried to steer his side to a competitive total but that resolve would come to an end as he was out bowled for a well made 37.
Farrell was now joined by fellow spinning all rounder Will Simpson and Bangor were in desperate need of a partnership with the score on 98-7 after 27 overs. Both batters recognising the situation were happy to knock the ball about and scored a handful of runs an over to get their eye in. Armagh sensing an opportunity to roll Bangor over early and have a low total to chase brought seamer Liebenberg back on to finish his 10 overs but Farrell and Simpson were able to see him off with the score 137-7 after 38 overs.
It was from here Bangor sensed their own opportunity with Armagh’s top heavy approach to their bowling meaning they would have to bowl their 5th & 6th bowling options for most of the remaining 12 overs. This was when Farrell & Simpson showed off their attacking flair as the ball started finding the boundary more often and dot balls were hard to come by for the visitors. The score rocketed towards 200 and the 100 run partnership for the 8th wicket came up at the end of 47th over, a brilliant partnership from the young duo gave Bangor more than a fighting chance. Both batters deservedly past 50 as well, Simpson first brining up his second fifty of the season and Farrell bringing up his first in Bangor colours. Both batters would fall towards the end looking to advance the score further with final duo Michael Skelly & George Prince adding the final few runs including a huge 6 from Skelly ensured Bangor reached 214-9 at the end of their 50 overs. A below par total in all likelihood but a good bowling & fielding performance could force through a thrilling victory.
Last week’s destructive duo of Brown & Skelly opened the bowling who would look to make early inroads with the new ball. It was Armagh though that made the more positive start but that was until Brown bowled Steenson. Skelly would soon got in on the act removing Rodgers before Brown would pick up his second removing the dangerous Wilson for 28 leaving Armagh 57-3 in the 11th over. First change bowlers Farrell & Prince looked to keep things tight but it was Farrell that would claim the important scalp of Liebenberg with the score 80-4 and Bangor sensed a possible route to victory.
Armagh managed to dig in and reached drinks with the score on 106-4 after 25 overs and the game hung in the balance. Bangor though as hard they tried struggled to break the partnership which while not scoring heavily was starting to find scoring easier to come. When the 40th over yielded 11 runs, Bangor started to fall behind with the visitors needing 43 runs from 10 overs with two very well set batters. Credit to Wright & Doyle who then took the game away from Bangor as they sensed their opportunity to score quickly and eliminate any prospect of a Bangor win as they both finished up on 75 & 72 not out respectively to see their side home to victory with 31 balls remaining.
Another tough loss to take for Bangor who have suffered tight losses in 3 of their last 4 league games to teams around them in the league. Seven league games now remain and Bangor are in 8th place just outside the relegation zone. Though Laurelvale in 4th place sit just 6 points above Bangor shows that Section 1 is incredibly competitive league and there will be many more ups and downs no doubt to come still. Bangor’s next game in league is against one of those teams just above them in Cregagh and a win would go a long way to steer them away from the bottom two.
