Firsts 'Burn out - but Seconds win 'derby' thriller

Ballymena 1st XI batted first and on a pitch more suited to seam bowling, they found themselves in big trouble when Robert Kennedy (5) Carl Williams (1) and David Kennedy (0) were all back in the pavilion when the score was on 13!

David Simpson caused most of the early damage by bowling full and straight and getting the ball to move both ways.

It was left to captain, James Kennedy and overseas professional, Kaushik Aphale, to rebuild the innings. They batted intelligently together as they compiled a half century stand, putting away the occasional 'bad ball' that came their way.

When Aphale (24) was out to a simple return catch and Kennedy (34) out LBW shortly after, a score in excess of 130 looked unlikely.

Last week's batting star, Andrew Kirkpatrick, however had other ideas. He compiled a superb undefeated innings of 71 and took the Ballymena score at the completion of the innings to what should have been a very competitive 163.

Ballymena required early wickets and unfortunately despite excellent opening spells from Michael Glass and Matthew Purse they did not arrive.

The Lisburn openers certainly where 'riding their luck' as they played and missed on numerous occasions and when the bowlers did 'find an edge' the ball continually landed in safety.

Despite the home sides 4 spinners best efforts the pitch seemed to have 'flattened out' and although Aphale and Taylor shared 4 wickets that was as good as it got for the Eaton Park men as Lisburn passed their target with 3 overs to spare.

A disappointing day for the home side who now have to pick themselves up for the daunting trip to Comber on Saturday to face North Down.

Ballymena will be without the holidaying Robert Kennedy but are hopeful that Moe Verjee will be available once again.

SECONDS

BALLYMENA Seconds stayed in contention at the top of the Division Two Section One table with a hard fought and entertaining six runs victory over Muckamore Seconds at Eaton Park on Saturday.

Those watching certainly got full value for their money with 506 runs scored on another glorious day at the Raceview Road venue, with the visitors falling just short of their victory target of 257.

Richard White and James Carmichael led the way for the home side as they put on 117 for the first wicket in 29 overs, the latter scoring 64 in an innings that included 12 boundaries.

White was joined by Stephen Colgan and they added a further 122 before Colgan was unfortunately run out for 45 after hitting four fours and one six.

White was just eight runs short of a well deserved century when he was caught and bowled by Gary Nicholl with just nine balls left of the home side's innings. He struck nine boundaries.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Muckamore and that task became harder when Jack Gibson removed both openers in a top spell to leave them six for two.

That brought together captain Alan Quigley (69) and Sunny Stephenson (77) who got their side right back into the game with a wonderful partnership of 165.

But both went in quick succession and requiring 70 from the last ten overs with new batsmen at the crease, Muckamore were always just behind the asking rate, mainly due to an excellent spell of bowling from Paul Black, whose seven overs from the town end brought him four wickets at a cost of just 20 runs.

With 26 needed from two overs, Black's final six balls went for just five, and despite a six from the fourth ball of Matt Purse's final over, Muckamore fell six runs short.

That's four wins from six games in the league so far this season for Neil Fullerton's side with high-flying North Down II coming to Eaton Park next week for a top-of-the-table clash.

Ballymena II 256 for 4 (R White 92, J Carmichael 64, S Colgan 45)

Muckamore II 250 for 9 (S Stephenson 77, A Quigley 69, P Black 4/20).

THIRDS

IT was a frustrating day at the office for Ballymena Thirds on Saturday as injuries, missed chances and poor umpiring decisions all contributed to a 32 run home defeat at the hands of North Down.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat on a good wicket and fast outfield and while they were scoring quickly they were also loosing regular wickets.

The Ballymena bowlers were getting increasingly frustrated as balls dropped just short of fielders or landed just over their heads but what made matters worse was the turning down of no fewer than five very clear LBW decisions.

One of those was against J Napier while he was still in single figures but he was given not out and went on to score 108no in a total of 228. Paul Campbell was again the pick of the home bowlers taking 3 for 22.

The Ballymena reply got off to a bright start with skipper Lytle smashing 16 off the first over but in the fourth over his fellow opener McNeill was caught with Matthew Dick clean bowled the next ball.

Lytle and Dean Gordon added 55 for the next wicket before Gordon was caught behind. Lytle was finally dismissed for 60 but some fine hitting from Nicholl, Craig, Whitehurst and McBurney kept them in the hunt.

Wickets were falling too often and with leading batsman Paul Campbell unable to bat due to injury, the total of 229 was just too much and Ballymena were dismissed for 197.

This week the Thirds are away to Derriaghy in the quarter final of the Minor Cup.

FOURTHS

BALLYMENA Fourths travelled to East Belfast on Saturday to play CSNI who are one of the strongest sides in the league.

With only two changes from the previous week the side is beginning to show success through a consistent line-up.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat Colin McClean and Ali Gibson made a slow but untroubled start reaching 45 before McClean was out to a good catch at square leg.

Two other quick wickets fell before James Russell came to the crease to join Gibson. They added 95 together before Russell was out for a hard hitting 57.

Ali Gibson continued the acceleration before he was out to the penultimate ball of the innings for an excellent 58, ably supported by the talented Peter Gillespie who contributed 25 valuable runs.

Ballymena finished on 206 for 5 off 40 overs which is an excellent return at this level.

In reply CSNI made the worst possible start with Mark Monteith taking two wickets in the first over!

Excellent opening bowling by Mark and James Russell saw the Stormont based team slump to 24 for 5 before their experienced middle order rode their luck against the Ballymena attack to eventually post a total of 153 all out.

Mention must be made of an excellent spell bowled by the luckless Stephen Healey who bowled with great control and maturity as Ballymena won with 53 runs to spare.

This Saturday Ballymena host Muckamore in the Minor Qualifying Cup quarter-final in an intriguing local derby.