1sts return to winning form
The first XI returned to winning form with a 5 wicket victory over Dundrum at Pollock Park on Saturday in their Lagan Valley Steel Shield game, but no such joy for the 2nds who lost in the league at Carrick 3rds.
With Dundrum batting first it needed an improved bowling performance by the Lurgan side following their mid-week defeat at Holywood and they duly obliged. A tight start by Adam Johnson and Jack Maxwell forced the Dundrum batsmen to work hard for their runs. Johnson claimed the first wicked bowling Hutley for 9 and he claimed a further wicket later on in the innings to finish with 2 for 16 off 4 overs. Jack Maxwell bowled an excellent spell taking 1 for 13 in his 4 and there were wickets for Iqbal Khan and Peter Maxwell as the visitors hit 117 for 6 wkts in their 20 overs.
In reply it was Stephen Johnston who dominated the Lurgan run chase, his 63 runs included 8 fours and a six off 52 deliveries and it was his partnership of 61 runs for the 2nd wicket with Stephen Chambers (19) that laid the foundation for the Lurgan victory. Derek Wilson hit the winning runs off the first ball of the last over, the win securing Lurgan’s place in the semi-final of the competition.
In the league at Carrickfergus, a good bowling performance by the 2nds held the home side to 99 for 8 wkts in their 20 overs. Skipper Peter Hutchinson was the pick of the Lurgan bowlers taking 2 wkts for just 8 runs in his 4 overs while Manav Tyagi claimed 2 for 13 in 4 and Harry McDowell 2 for 23 again in 4.
Accurate bowling by the home side meant Lurgan were struggling to meet the required run rate and the visitors finished on 76 for 7 to lose by 23 runs, with Marvin Van Niekirk and Peter Hutchinson each hitting 20.
