1sts win in dramatic finish
Following a mid-week defeat against Bangor, it was essential that Lurgan got back into winning ways against Derriaghy, and they did so in dramatic fashion at Pollock Park on Saturday.
Put into bat, the home side lost both Stephen Johnston (1) and Callum Grieve (9) quickly with just 21 on the board. This brought AV Dandekar and Stephen Chambers to the crease and both batsmen gradually steadied the innings, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. At the 25 over stage they had taken the total to 94 for 2 and the home side seemed to be in control. However the introduction of Matthew Jennings turned the innings on its
head as he took 4 wickets in 2 overs, including Dandekar for an excellent half century (53) and Chambers (23) to reduce the home side to 105 for 6 and looking in trouble. However Peter Maxwell and Ollie McCollum rescued the middle order with a half century 7th wicket partnership until Maxwell was out caught behind for 32. Ollie McCollum made 27 and the town side’s innings closed on 189 for 9 after 50 overs.
There was an early breakthrough for Andrew Bingham as he had Derriaghy opener Bell caught behind for 4 with the total on 17. Lurgan’s bowling was tight and runs were at a premium and just as the rain arrived Lurgan claimed their second wicket, with Bailey caught by Stephen Chambers off Callum Grieve for 24 with the total on 54. Play resumed with the big hitting Craig Lewis at the crease and after a cautious start, Lewis started to plunder runs and swing the game back into Derriaghy’s favour. Having survived an early leg before appeal and after hitting four big sixes, he was eventually trapped LBW by AV Dandekar for 39 with the score on 118. The game continued to hang in the balance with Lurgan claiming a wicket every time Derriaghy threatened to pull away. The clinching moment of the game came as Peter Maxwell took a superb low catch off the bowling of Ollie McCollum on the long on boundary to dismiss Jennings for 37 and leave the visitors on 173 for 7 wkts. Only 3 more runs were added as the heavens opened and the players left the field with 2 overs remaining and Lurgan 2 runs ahead on the DLS calculation. Play had to resume before 6 minutes past 7 and when the rain didn’t relent, no further play was possible and the valuable four points went Lurgan’s way, reward for an excellent team performance. AV Dandekar took 2 wkts for 18 runs off 10 overs, Callum Grieve 2 for 40 off 9 overs and there was a wicket each for Ollie McCollum, Andrew Bingham and Peter Maxwell.
