Lisburn defy odds to take Carrick victory
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Lisburn Cricket Club Chairman Ian Ross, Yasas Tillakaratne (Lisburn cricket club professional) and James Clarke Sales Executive Charles Hurst Lisburn who are sponsoring Lisburn Cricket Club- US341O-106A0 |
Tom Crookshanks batting for Derriaghy in Saturday's match against Laurelvalel US341O-517cd |
LISBURN survived the loss of the toss, the weather, Duckworth/Lewis and a severe rearguard attack by the Carrick number 5 to eventually beat their opponents by 32 runs at Middle Road last Saturday.
With rain in the air, Carrick captain, Ryan Eagleson had no hesitation in asking Lisburn to bat ftrst and they soon had their reward with the early wicket of Davey Simpson. Promoted up the batting order after his fine 41 against Instonians. Davey was caught behind the wicket for 4 and replacement Yasas Tillakatarne and Ryan Ervine began to repair the loss.
The pair added 34 for the 2nd wicket with Ryan Ervine being quite content to stay at the crease before he was very well caught at short mid wicket for a dogged 9 and Lisburn were 39 for 2 in the 13th over.
Adam Berm joined Tillakaratne and both batsmen began to play their shots adding a further 54 in good time before Berry played across a delivery from Kemohan and a very useful 17 leaving his side 83 for 3 in the 24th over.
All the time, the Lisburn professional was looking to be again in very good form and with skipper Greg Thompson began to forge a significant stand. However, it was severely interrupted by a heavy rain shower which forced the players off the pitch for the best part of an hour.
When they returned the Duckworth/Lewis system had lopped 8 overs off the full quota of 50 but both Thompson and Tillakaratne settled in to add 57 for the 4th wicket but in the 34th over the Lisburn captain was caught for 30 with the score at 140 for 4 with just 8 overs remaining in the innings.
Johnny Bell stayed with the professional for 5 overs and in that short space of time they had taken the tally to 168 for 5 before Bell was adjudged run out for 10 and it was up to the remaining Lisburn late order to take the final total to 180 for 9 at the end of the 42 overs.
A second short rain break towards the end of the Lisburn innings had led to the Carrick reply being restricted to 41 overs and the winnang target had been raised to 190 for reasons only known to Duckworth/ Lewis.
Lisburn with the weather hanging over them, started with a real purpose claiming the prize wickets of Stirling, Cowden professional Gelderbloem and number 3, Gilmour with just 21 runs on the scoreboard. Davey Simpson bowled Stirling, while Ryan Ervine accounted for the other three in just a handful of deliveries and Carrick were in deep trouble at 21 for 4 in the 7th over of concerted Lisburn bowling pressure.
Decisive
Lisburn, looking set for a quick and decisive victory had not allowed for Australian O'Shea who began to take the bowling apart. He firstly set about Hennie van de Merwe who had come on to speed up the over rate as rain threatened; Davey Simpson and particularly Richard McConkey. In a short time he had hit no less than 8 sixes and 4 fours in just 60 balls. He had suddenly put his team into contention, for a very surprising win with the score at 139 with still over 12 overs left to reach the target of 190.
However, normality was restored when Hennie van de Merwe returned to have him caught by Richard Simpson on the square leg boundary for an incredible 81. McCalmont and the tail enders McClurkin and Kernohan kept Carrick in the game until McCalmont was caught by Tillakaratne off Greg Thompson and the Lisburn captain ended the Carrick innings with two more wickets leaving the home side all out for 158 and 32 runs short
Lisburn's bowlers had suffered their biggest mauling of the season but kept their heads and when O'Shea had done his severe damage they were still in control and totally deserved their 13th win of the ever more exciting season.
Greg Thompson was most successful bowler with 4 for 33 while Ryan Ervine took 3 for 18 and Davey Simpson 2 for 39. Hennie van de Merwe after his initial shock again returned the admirable figures of 1 for 19 off his 4 overs. Only Richard McConkey really suffered with figures of 0 for 44 off his 4 overs.
Ulster Star
03/09/2010
