Ballymena get surprise win to help in relegation battle
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Simon McDowell took the vital wicket of Craig McMillan.
THE headline in a Saturday morning newspaper stated that Ballymena had dented CI's title hopes after their 8-run win at Eaton Park on Friday afternoon.
Those involved with Ballymena Cricket Club however will have had a different slant on the result.
The Ballymena win, given the form of the two sides going into the game, was not expected anywhere perhaps apart from the Ballymena side but it has now both ended a losing streak and helped James Kennedy's side move a further 4 points away from the relegation battle.
Restricted to a 35-over game, Ballymena batted first and after losing Carl Williams (2) with only 6 runs scored there must have been thoughts of another top order collapse.
However fellow opener Kaushik Aphale (37), wicket keeper Andrew Kirkpatrick (40) and James Kennedy (34) helped Ballymena reach a credible 156 runs off their allotted overs.
When CIYMS passed 50 before they lost their first wicket a victory for the visitors must have been expected. But when Simon McDowell had New Zealand test batsman Craig McMillan (10) caught by Aphale CIYMS lost wickets at regular intervals as their top order failed to capitalise on their good start.
There were 3 run outs as they came up 8 runs short and wickets for Matthew Purse (2) and Moe Vergee, Michael Glass, McDowell and Williams who each picked up a single wicket ensured that CIYMS could only reach 148 off their 35 overs.
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