Downpatrick in winning groove

Downpatrick in winning groove

15 August 2012

AFTER a topsy-turvy weekend of Section 1 cricket, Downpatrick find themselves back in the hunt for promotion to the Premier League after securing a hard fought 51-run victory over Holywood at the Strangford Road on Saturday afternoon.

Downpatrick are now just two victories off top spot, with two matches in hand over the league’s top two, Lurgan and Woodvale.

Downpatrick opened proceedings with the bat, however it was to be first blood to the visitors as Downpatrick’s Paul Tate was removed without a run scored in just the second over of the innings; Holywood’s William Belford claiming the wicket.

The new Downpatrick batting duo of James Magowan and Dale Mullan shared a 57-run partnership, with Magowan reaching 33 before he was bowled by Seamus Sharkey in the 17th over. Mullan was also back in the pavilion one over later, departing for 20 after being caught behind off the bowling of Ross Adair.

With the score on 59-3, Downpatrick professional Erik Laubscher came to the crease. He and Michael Carson would go on to build a 20-run partnership before Carson was bowled by Sharkey just one over short of drinks. Downpatrick headed into the interval on 82-4.

Laubscher and Gavin Ringland had to bat patiently in the overs after drinks, with runs hard to come by thanks to some formidable Holywood bowling. Ringland was the next to go in the 31st over when he was caught and bowled by Peter Purcell, leaving Downpatrick in trouble on 89-5.

Four overs later and John Wheeler was also back in the pavilion with the score on 95. The middle order batting woes continued for Downpatrick in the 38th over, when Laubscher departed for 16. The Australian was bowled by Mark Adair to leave the hosts struggling on 100-7.

An eighth wicket soon followed when Aaron Cairns became Purcell’s second victim of the afternoon.

Youngsters Ricky Gill and Jordan Wade then set about restoring order in the Downpatrick ranks. With the score on 117-8, the Downpatrick Colts duo formed a partnership which added a crucial 37 runs to the hosts total. Both batted imperiously, adding crucial boundaries to take Downpatrick past the 140-run mark. Gill had reached 29 before he was stumped in the penultimate over.

Wade, who was making his first XI debut, went on an all-out attack in the final over, adding 13 runs to the Downpatrick total give the hosts a final score of 155-9. Wade finished unbeaten on 21.

Downpatrick’s response in the field started excellently, as captain James Magowan claimed the wickets of Holywood openers Richard Kerrigan and Alan Duddy in the opening exchanges to reduce the visitors to 7-2 off 6 overs.

Sheamus Sharkey and Ross Adair formed a partnership worth 74-runs, which began to turn the tide of the match in favour of the visitors.

However, what was to follow was

nothing short of excellent from Downpatrick.

The introduction of debutant Jordan Wade into the bowling attack proved to be a master-stroke for the hosts, as he clean bowled Adair (57) in the 24th over.

Sharkey soon followed, when he was bowled by Erik Laubscher just two overs later.

The visitors were sitting slightly less comfortably with the score on 87-4.

Wade and Laubscher each claimed a second wicket in the 28th and 29th overs, leaving Holywood struggling on 91-6. Laubscher then proceeded to rip through the Holywood tail end, adding a further three wickets to his tally on his way to excellent figures of 5-22.

Holywood had capitulated from 80-2 to 104-9 in the space of eight overs, and it was left to veteran Colin Magowan to claim the final wicket of the day to leave Downpatrick triumphant by 51 runs.

UPS Man of the Match: Jordan Wade