There are some cricket matches that are remembered for the result. Then there are matches that are remembered for everything that happened in & around it. Thursday evening’s final game of the season against Saintfield was certainly one of the latter — and ultimately, it ended with Bangor Cricket Club celebrating a momentous promotion to the Premier League.
With everything riding on the final round of fixtures, Bangor travelled to Saintfield knowing that a win would secure their place in the all important top two and maybe even a league title. At the same time, Lurgan and Carrickfergus the other promotion contenders were battling it out against each other, with that result having a huge bearing on Bangor’s finishing position.
At Saintfield, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat, and despite some wayward Bangor bowling early doors, the visitors battled their way back into the game to limit the Saintfield to 119/9 from 19.3 overs. George Prince and Angus Farrell both claimed three wickets, while Michael Skelly took two, with wickets shared around the Bangor attack. Then came the start of the drama.
With just three balls of the Saintfield innings remaining, a heavy shower swept across the ground, leaving the square and outfield saturated. With daylight also beginning to fade, there were genuine doubts as to whether Bangor would get the opportunity to bat at all.
Thankfully, the efforts of everyone involved — particularly our hosts at Saintfield — meant that the ground was made playable just in time.
Bangor were given five overs to chase their revised target of 40 to win, with the fading daylight adding another layer of tension to an already extraordinary evening.
Despite the sub-optimal conditions, Bangor were making excellent progress and were 37-2 heading into the final over thanks to Brodie Harrison’s cameo of 20 from 11 balls. At the same time the Lurgan vs Carrickfergus game concluded in dramatic circumstances in a tie meaning Carrickfergus were champions and Bangor now had to win their match to ensure they finished in 2nd place ahead of Lurgan who were now two points ahead of Bangor. 3 runs from the final over should be simple… right…
Bangor picked up the first of those three runs from the first ball being called a wide and the equation was even simpler with them now needing 2 from 6. Seb Yeates was then dismissed looking to win the game caught at mid on. This brought Mark Hutchinson to the crease who looked to scamper a quick single in the infield, but he was ran out and all of a sudden Bangor were in a slight predicament.
That problem was further compounded by 2 dot balls as darkness descended literally and figuratively on all watching on from a Bangor persuasion, as the tension ramped up even more with 2 runs now needed from the final 2 balls. Senior statesman Andrew Kirkpatrick got one short and looked for the trademark aerial pull shot but could only pick out square leg on the bounce, but crucially the batters crossed for a run and the game was now tied with 1 ball left and technically Bangor were now promoted on Net Run Rate.
Irish U15 batter Felix McMillan faced the final ball but couldn’t lay bat on it in the gloom and incredibly both games in the promotion battle ended up as a tie, what were the chances!
Bangor in their minds knew they were promoted based on how the league table was entering the evening but then faced an agonising wait for the league table on the NCU website to confirm their promotion. All the while doubts crept in around did we actually win the match, did we even definitely tie the match?
Phone signal and the NCU website seemed to fail everyone as a nervy 10 minute wait ensued before one of the players phones finally got the league table to update. The wait was over, it confirmed Bangor had finished in 2nd position and Promoted to the Premier League! Joyous scenes mixed with relief ensued as players and fans alike celebrated with one another on an incredible ending to a memorable season.
To captain Johnny Parker and every member of the 1XI squad, many congratulations. The side’s chances of promotion looked slim after their gutting defeats to Carrickfergus, Templepatrick and Lurgan in August but in the face of adversity the team rallied for one final big push. The huge Cregagh win for Net Run Rate reasons and results going Bangor’s way all of a sudden presented Bangor an incredible opportunity to seal promotion on their own terms on the final day, albeit it didn’t quite pan out as imagined!
Promotion is the reward for the teams consistency, commitment from the players and huge performances right across the squad produced throughout the season, and it is a fantastic achievement for this group of players.
A huge thank you must also go to Saintfield Cricket Club for their cooperation and efforts in getting the ground playable after the shower, allowing the final five overs to happen and for a result to take place.
From a dramatic final day of action to a momentous achievement for Bangor Cricket Club, Premier League cricket is coming back to Upritchard Park for the first time since 2011. The squad will look forward to a well earned break before attention and focus will rightly turn to the challenge that lies ahead next season.
Before then though a number of thanks are needed. To our 12th member of the team Carol Clark who scores all of the 1XI matches, thank you for all you do and giving up a large chunk of your Saturday’s to score for us and indeed the Women’s 1XI side. A big thank you as well to Barney and the grounds staff at Upritchard Park who provide one of if not the best ground to play at in the country. We are hugely appreciative for the amount of work that goes into preparing the ground all year round for us to enjoy and play our cricket. A final thanks as well to partners, friends & family who line the boundary every week, we are hugely grateful for your support.
Saintfield 119-9 (19.3 overs, A Graham 39, G Harrison 25, M Skelly 2-21, A Farrell 3-20, G Prince 3-19)
Bangor 39-5 (5 overs, B Harrison 20, J Devonport 2-2)
Match Tied (DLS)
Target revised to 40 off 5 overs
