7 wkt win for 1sts
The 1sts recorded a 7 wkt win over Victoria in the 2nd round of the Junior Cup on Saturday in the Public Park. It was a 6 wicket haul for Peter Maxwell that paved the way for a home tie against Downpatrick in the next round.
Victoria batted first and tight bowling by Jack Maxwell and Callum Gibson kept runs to a minimum in the first 10 overs. Jack’s first five overs conceded only 7 runs and captured the wicket of opener Black while Callum conceded just 4 runs in his first five. Two run outs didn’t help Victoria’s cause with Matthew Parks (24) going for a second that was never really on and Gary McClune (28) run out by Stephen Johnston following some sharp fielding. However it was Peter Maxwell’s introduction that bit into the Victoria innings. First he had Gray brilliantly stumped by Scott Wilson for 27 and then claimed five more wkts as Victoria collapsed from 80 for 4 to 110 all out in the 35th over. Peter finished with 6 for 22 off 9.3 overs, Jack Maxwell took 1 for 7 off 5, Stephen Johnston 1 for 40 off 9, Callum Gibson 0 for 15 off 8 and Jack Hutchinson 0 for 24 off 3.
Lurgan’s reply got off to a shaky start with Callum Grieve and Stephen Chambers both out to excellent catches by Parks and Gilpin without scoring and with only 6 runs on the board. However Stephen Johnston and Jack Maxwell soon began to dominate the Victoria bowling and a 3rd wicket partnership of 90 soon had the visitor’s within sight of the finishing line. Jack was eventually out caught by Gary McClune off the bowling of Gray for 45, an innings that included 6 fours and a six. Callum Gibson then came to the crease and smashed his first three deliveries to the boundary and then a 2 to clinch victory in the 15th over. Stephen Johnston was undefeated on 35 hitting four boundaries, three off successive deliveries and shot of the day, a towering six over the long on boundary.
It’s back to the league next week for the 1sts with a trip to Holywood next Saturday.
For some excellent photos of the game by Maynard Collins go to the following link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CnFK6llD21xDnoXgKu0CUiOM8vvZyYVd?usp=sharing
Jack Maxwell on his way to 45 in Lurgan Park
