Bad defeat sums up miserable weekend

Bad defeat sums up miserable weekend

25 July 2012

DOWNPATRICK failed to bounce back from their defeat against Cliftonville the previous day with an away fixture against Muckamore on Sunday.

On a batsman-friendly wicket, Muckamore won the toss and opted to bat in the opening innings.

Muckamore openers Jason Van der Merwe and Craig Drummond found the going tough in the opening exchanges, scoring just 21 runs off the first 12 overs, with Justin Rea and John Wheeler continuing their impressive form with the ball.

Wheeler made the breakthrough in the 13th over, when he dismissed Drummond, following an LBW, for 15. This brought Muckamore’s overseas professional Indrajeet Kamtekar to the crease.

He and Van der Merwe would go on to share a crucial 161-run partnership, which took the Muckamore total to 187, before Downpatrick finally claimed a wicket in the 45th over; Kamtekar was removed by Justin Rea after being caught out by Ricky Gill.

Van der Merwe celebrated his century in the 46th over, with Muckamore on 191-2. Downpatrick rallied in the final exchanges, and further wickets were taken by Justin Rea, Dale Mullan and a run-out following a direct hit from James Magowan. However Muckamore were able to advance the total to 220-5 from their 50 overs.

Downpatrick suffered a major setback before their batting innings even bagan, with the news that Gavin Ringland would be unable to bat for the visitors having aggravated a back injury whilst fielding.

Worse was to follow for Downpatrick, when opener Paul Tate was clean bowled by Muckamore skipper Neil Gill with just the fourth ball of the innings.

James Magowan and Dale Mullan shared an all-too brief partnership, before the latter was back in the pavilion after being dismissed by Richard Keates in the sixth over.

Yet another batting collapse was on the cards when Magowan was dismissed by Gill in the ninth over, with the visitors on just 34, with three wickets down. Downpatrick professional Erik Laubscher batted stubbornly, however, and began scoring runs to take Downpatrick past the 50-run mark in the 13th over.

The wicket of Ricky Gill fell in the 15th over, with Downpatrick in trouble on 58-4. Justin Rea and Aaron Ferris provided some resistance before being dismissed in consecutive overs to leave the visitors on 72-6.

Crucially, Laubscher remained at the crease; however with batting partners running out, the Australian began to take risks to try and advance the score. This saw Laubscher go for one big hit too many, and he was removed in the 28th over by Jason Van der Merwe, one run short of his half century. Defeat was on the cards for Downpatrick at this point, with the score on 103-7.

John Wheeler and Dan Carson added a handful of runs before Wheeler was bowled by Keates in the 31st over.

Owing to the earlier injury suffered by Gavin Ringland, Downpatrick’s final partnership of Dan Carson and Phil Moreland advanced the score to 120 before Neil Gill claimed his third wicket of the day to dismiss Carson.

Downpatrick fell 100 runs short of their required total, in what was an all-round forgetful afternoon, and weekend, for the Strangford Road men.

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