Wins for Mens and Ladies 1st XI’s
There were wins for both the mens and ladies 1stXI’s at the weekend with the men defeating Woodvale at Ballygomartin Road and the ladies completing a league double over Waringstown at the Lawn.
At Woodvale, Lurgan at last claimed their first league win of the season and inflicted Woodvale’s first league defeat. Stevie Chambers lead the way with an excellent undefeated 81 while Stephen Johnston can consider himself unlucky to be given out leg before for 64 to what sounded like an inside edge. AV Dandekar(38) and Jack Harrison (33) provided good support as the town side scored 255 for 8 wkts in their 50 overs.
Woodvale were always behind the clock and the tactical decision to open the bowling with Andrew Bingham proved decisive with only 20 runs being conceded and 3 wickets claimed in his 10 overs. Two excellent catches by Stevie Chambers and a spectacular diving catch in the covers by Stevie Johnston made sure the home sides wickets kept tumbling. However it was only when Brown was run out for 40 following an excellent return from Andrew Bingham to break up a 7th wicket partnership did victory for Lurgan seem secured. Woodvale were eventually bowled out for 233 leaving Lurgan winners by 32 runs.
In the Women’s Premier League, Lurgan completed a league double over Waringstown with a 3 wicket victory at the Lawn. Batting first, the villagers posted a challenging target of 137 for 8 wkts in their 25 overs. Jane Kilpatrick took 3 wickets for 28 runs in her 5 overs as the last 5 Waringstown wickets fell for just 16 runs. There were also wickets for Alex Craig (1 for 9 off 2 overs), Hannah Grieve (1 for 18 off 5), Emma McMurray (1 for 22 off 3) and Lauren Breakey (1 for 35 off 5).
In reply, Hannah Grieve completed her second undefeated half century against Waringstown this season while Lauren Breakey continued her excellent form with the bat hitting 34. Suzi McCollum had hit 27 before being run out but by that stage Lurgan had victory in sights as they passed the home side’s total in the 23rd over. The win keeps Lurgan at the top of the Premier League with 4 wins from 4.
