Resounding win for 1sts at Cliftonville

The 1sts produced an excellent all-round performance to beat Cliftonville by a resounding 159 runs in a two night Section 1 league game at Mallusk.

Batting first, Stephen Johnston and Callum Grieve got away to a steady start on a difficult batting strip until the total reached 19 when a direct hit run out Grieve without scoring. AV Dandekar joined Johnston and they took the total to 52 when the erratic bounce did for Dandekar, as a delivery from McCord lifted sharply off a length and looped off the

shoulder of the bat to Anderson at second slip, and he was out for 13. Lurgan’s middle order batsmen all contributed to the innings with Callum Gibson hitting 23, Stephen Chambers (32) and Ollie McCollum (17). An undefeated 42 run seventh wicket partnerhip between father and son combination Peter and Jack Maxwell took the game completely away from Cliftonville, Peter finishing on 57 no and Jack on 33 no. 263 to win was the target set and even with a short boundary on one side it was going to be a tough chase.

Next evening, Andrew Bingham got the visitors off to a great start forcing Cliftonville opening batsman Neil Cahill to play on with the total on 21. Callum Grieve struck next trapping McKnight leg before for 5 and after that it was virtually a procession as wickets fell at regular intervals. Only number 3 batsman Kelso offered any resistance and his was the last wicket to fall as the home side collapsed to 103 all out. It was a tight bowling performance by the Lurgan team, giving the home side limited opportunity to capitalise on the short boundary.  AV Dandekar took 4 wkts for 12 runs in 7.2 overs, Andrew Bingham 2 for 28 off 10, Ollie McCollum 2 for 22 off 8, Callum Grieve 1 for 11 off 5 and Callum Gibson 1 for 9 off 2.

Lurgan’s next game is away to Donacloney on Saturday.

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