Bangor 193-9 (40 overs) Dundrum 192 (40 overs)
Bangor won by one run
DUNDRUM Cricket Club’s men’s first XI played their first game of the season on Saturday (11 May). It resulted in a thrilling finish as Dundrum narrowly lost by one run in a final ball thriller.
After weeks of prolonged rainfall, Dundrum were finally able to play a game of cricket in glorious sunshine at The Meadow.
Bangor made the journey down to Dundrum having lost their opening game of the season against Holywood. Dundrum’s new Skipper Gavin McNerlin won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Dundrum opened the bowling with Stian Swanepoel and Stuart Campbell. Bangor’s opening batters were Mark Hutchinson and Christian Orr. Dundrum got off to a fantastic start as Campbell dismissed Orr for 0 from his third delivery. Then Swanepoel had new batter Jonathan Parker trapped LBW for five in his second over, leaving Bangor 10 for 2.
Bangor’s overseas professional Robbie Van Hart came to the crease looking to rebuild with Hutchinson. They took the score to 40 for 2 from 12 overs before new bowler Scott Symington had Hutchinson (16) caught behind.
New batter Andrew Kirkpatrick combined well with Van Hart, adding 69 for the next wicket as they began to put the Dundrum bowler and fielders under pressure.
Kirkpatrick was eventually dismissed for 38 off the bowling of Swanepoel, leaving Bangor 109 for 4. Van Hart was still there and began to attack the Dundrum bowlers, accelerating the scoring. He was eventually dismissed for a well-made 68 to leave Bangor in a strong position.
Dundrum fought back in the final overs of the innings as Swanepoel ran through the Bangor tail to finish with bowling figures of 5 for 19 from his eight over bowling spell.
Bangor eventually finished on 193 from their 40 overs. On a slow outfield this was an above par score and Dundrum would need to bat well to get close to the score.
Dundrum began the second innings with Rhodri Phillips and Terry Hutley opening the batting. Bangor opened the bowling with Van Hart and George Prince.
Hutley (5) was dismissed early on as he was run out to leave Dundrum 15 for 1 off five overs. Stuart Campbell came to the crease and helped rebuild with Phillips taking Dundrum to 45 from 12 overs.
Campbell (10) was then dismissed off the bowling of Van Hart. Stian Swanepoel came to the crease adding a quick 22 before being bowled by W Simpson, leaving Dundrum 68 for 3.
David Glover (13) added 30 for the next wicket with Phillips. Dundrum kept losing wickets, eventually falling to 144 for 8 from 31 overs however, Phillips was still batting.
Phillips brought his first half century for the first XI and Dundrum still believed they were within a chance of victory. Matthew Douglas (17) combined well with Phillips as Dundrum crept towards the total.
However, Phillips was then dismissed for 75 to leave Dundrum 179 for 9 still needing 14 runs from 11 balls.
Phil Jenkins came into bat, continuing to work with Douglas to inch towards the victory target. In the end Dundrum required two runs from the final delivery but Douglas was run out to leave Bangor victorious by a single run.
The pick of the Bangor bowlers was James Patterson who finished with two for 37 from his eight over spell.
A disappointing defeat for Dundrum but they will be encouraged that they only just fell short against one of the favourites to win the league.
Dundrum’s next game is a T20 against Victoria on Friday 17 May in Dundrum (6pm start).
