ON a beautiful sunny afternoon last Saturday Downpatrick entertained Ards/Donaghadee at The Meadow.
Marco Wyngard won the toss and decided Downpatrick would have first use of a belting wicket.
Sunny Stephenson and Danny Carson opened for the locals with Gavin Fraser and Sam Ingham leading the attack for Ards/Donaghadee.
The batsmen got Downpatrick off to the usual quick start before, in over six, Ingham pinned Sunny lbw (38 for one).
Amitesh now joined Carson and the scoreboard was still rattling along at six an over before in over 16, Danny was well caught by Ingham off Phil McNamara for a well constructed 37 from 51 balls (2x4) (2x6) 89 for two.
This brought Marco Wyngard into bat and he and Amitesh tucked into the bowling with relish, Ami bringing up his 50 from 46 balls (4x4) (1x6) and together they added 65 in nine overs, 25 overs bowled 158 for three.
Hamza Khan was now in with Marco who raised his own 50 from 41 balls (3x4) (3x6).
Hamza had started slowly but suddenly, as if someone had flicked a switch, he got his timing and soon the ball was flying to both the Strangford Road and the Killyleagh Road.
Hamza raced to 50 from 35 balls (5x4) (3x6) and with ten overs to go Downpatrick were well placed 199 for three.
Marco joined the party and was soon crashing the ball to all parts of The Meadow and raced to his second 50 off 31 balls, 100 from 82 (6x4) (6x6) and between overs 30 and 40, 113 runs were added as Downpatrick amassed 312 for three.
Marco, 108 not out, Hamza Khan, 74 not out from 47 balls (6x4) (5x6), Wyngard finished with (6x4) (7x6), Amitesh had fallen earlier for 63 off 53 deliveries (4x4) (2x6).
Defending a massive 313 Ricky got Downpatrick off to the perfect start when, with the fifth ball of the inning, he bowled Michael Martin for two.
Ian Aitken came in at three and together with Ingham had taken the score to 37 in over nine before Ricky got his second wicket, having Ingham well caught by Amitesh for 13.
Andrew Savage came into bat at four and although he hung about for 18 balls and added 25 with Aitken, he did not manage to get off the mark, 62 for three in over 15.
Unbelievably 12 balls later the score was still 62 but for six as Vimal and Sammy Irwin tore the middle order apart.
Wickets were tumbling and the inning was crumbling and with the score 68, wicket seven fell one run later, 69 for eight, and six runs had produced six wickets.
The score had progressed to 81 before Irwin got his fourth victim and nine runs later the game was over as
Ards/Donaghadee imploded to 90 all out and a 222 run victory for Downpatrick.
Vimal, three for 11 from eight overs, the always reliable Sammy Irwin, four for 33, Ricky started the demolition with two for 15 and Sidarth wrapped up the victory with the final wicket of his second ball.
Match ball kindly sponsored by Gerry McCartan.