2nd defeat in a week

Lurgan slipped down into the relegation zone following a 90 run defeat in their Section 1 Ulster Bank league game against Armagh at Pollock Park on Saturday.

It was a remarkably similar game to the one at Academy mid-week with the home side seemingly in control early on with Armagh sitting at 115 for 5 wkts. However the lower batting order capably supported professional Indrajeet Kametar, who although well contained by the Lurgan bowlers in the first half of the innings, scored freely later on and was the last man out for 85 as Armagh finished on 195 all out – the same total as Academy in mid-week. Ollie McCollum capped a fine week with the ball taking 4 for 39 off his 10 overs while Callum Gibson had 2 for 37 off 10, Callum Grieve 2 for 47 off 9.3 and Niranjan Godbole 1 for 24 off 10.

The Lurgan reply did not start off as badly as at Academy although Callum Grieve was brilliantly caught at short leg by Sinton off Lester in the 4th over without scoring. Stephen Johnston had started positively and had hit 22 out of 31 when he nicked a delivery from Lester to wicketkeeper McCarter who took a fine catch standing up to the stumps. After the dismissal of professional Niranjan Godbole, out to a catch in the covers by Kametar off Walsh for 25, the home side gradually began to fall behind the run rate with wickets falling at regular intervals. The end came in the 42nd over when John Woods was bowled by Sinton for 3 to leave Lurgan all out for 105.

Ollie McCollum who took 4 for 39 in action against Armagh

Lurgan’s current league position is a reflection of their player availability which has been a problem for the club for a wide variety of reasons from the start of the season. Hopefully with 9 games still remaining, the selectors will have a fuller compliment of players to select from to enable the Town side to pull away from the relegation threat.

The ball used by Lurgan for this game was kindly sponsored by Jason McCullough.