An overcast Upritchard Park was the setting for the fourth clash of the year between Derriaghy and Bangor. Thus far, Bangor had prevailed on all three occasions in what were hotly contested encounters. This match had vital implications for both teams’ future, as a win would potentially secure Bangor’s safety and go a long way to securing the visitors’ survival if they were to prevail instead of other results went their way.
Bangor won the toss and opted to bowl first in the overcast conditions. Manav Chhabra and Michael Skelly opened the bowling and took advantage of the conditions, restricting the Aghy batsmen early on. The pressure told in the 4th over when Chhabra gained the first wicket of the day, nipping one away to have Beckett caught behind by Kirkpatrick. Skelly pulled up with a nasty back injury and was replaced by Pyper, who benefited greatly from the pressure of his predecessor, claiming a wicket caught behind in his first over as Kirkpatrick saw action early. Kirkpatrick did well to make it across to the catch and save Angus Farrell, who looked to his wicketkeeper half in fear and half in hope as the ball hurtled towards him.
A mix-up between the Derriaghy batsmen led to Sinovich being run out by astute fielding from Jonny Parker at point, as pressure once again proved telling. Chhabra and Pyper toiled on, trying desperately to gain the fourth wicket for Bangor. Angus Farrell came into the attack and displayed a novel technique for wicket-taking. Farrell pitched the ball in his own half, cunningly inveigling the batsman with the secret delivery hitherto unseen. Bailey fell hook, line and sinker for the cricketing genius, chipping it to Parker at point and departing the crease. At this stage, Derriaghy were 38–4.
Derriaghy overseas man Adams and veteran Lewis now attempted to rebuild the visitors’ innings. Simpson, Rowe, Farrell and Pyper all fought hard for the next wicket, drawing edges and chances that just would not stick. Eventually, Farrell’s genius returned. Realising the formula for success that had previously aided him, he tossed down another short-pitched delivery. Adams was simply bamboozled by this novel style of bowling and, having seen nothing like it, he hit it right down the throat of Rowe at short mid-wicket, who took the dolly with ease.
Now at 129–5, Bangor had Derriaghy where they wanted them. Lewis was dogmatic in his innings, guiding new man Stinson with him as they put on fifty for the next wicket. Chhabra came on to bowl his second spell and got the breakthrough as Lewis skied one to Sam McMillan, who took the catch without the use of his trusty mitts. McMillan’s catch would lead to a collapse of the lower order. Rowe got his first Bangor wicket, bowled, the next over and celebrated through misty eyes. Chhabra then claimed two more wickets with outstandingly precise yorkers. Pyper would then finish the job as the ball was gloved through for Kirkpatrick’s third catch of the day. Derriaghy had gone from 182–6 to 186 all out.
Bangor came out confident for their reply but faced early tumult, as Butler was caught behind for 7 in the second over. This brought Hutchinson to the crease, and he and McMillan seemed settled and in control until a delivery from Sinovich just did enough to beat McMillan and bowl him for twelve. A brief cameo from Rowe resulted in him departing without troubling the scorers, and Bangor found themselves 46–3 and hanging precariously, with 140 runs still required for victory.
Hutchinson and Parker showed their experience. They knew that run rate was not the issue and placed immense value on their wickets. Disraeli once said, “Through perseverance, many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure,” and the living testament of this was the innings played by these two men.
Slowly but surely the required runs trickled down. Bowlers became disheartened and fielders chased shadows. Yes, this day, by the efforts of these two stalwarts of Bangor, the gryphon on their chests was vindicated by every drive, hook, and cut to the boundary. Every single taken was a battle claimed for the UP faithful.
First came the fifty partnership, then the century, and finally the 140 partnership as the required total was achieved via a lethal cocktail of poise, panache, and potency. The two were welcomed off the pitch as the heroes they are, the sound of the ball on the willow from when Hutchinson finished it with a six still ringing in their ears like a glorious tinnitus.
Hutchinson finished on 92* and Parker on 60*, and Bangor had all but secured safety.
This has been a season of learning, but with two games left, school is still in session. All of us this season who have watched on and hold this team and club dear have been enthralled by the fighting spirit shown by a side that possesses a young core. The individual performances have been rife, but the thing most pleasing to all is the team spirit displayed at every corner, win or lose. For that is the cornerstone of a Bangorian—and a cricketing Bangorian no less—that he stands by his mates and leaves it all on the pitch for the cause of his club.
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