Ballymena Thirds suffer first loss in four games in match with CIYMS

CI won the toss and on a warm afternoon decided to bat first. Ballymena picked up one early wicket but the pitch was good and it became clear that they would have to work hard to restrict CI.

When Josh Scott bowled Beattie for Ballymena’s 2nd wicket the score was 47 after 10 overs. Ballymena stuck to the task well however and though wickets were infrequent CI never managed to push the run rate above 5 per over on a flat pitch with a fast outfield. Economical spells by Matthew Bell and Anthony Frazer of 7-1-22 and 7-1-17 helped restrict the scoring.

Declan O’Boyle also bowled well in the final 10 overs and picked up 2 wickets. CI managed 20 off the last 2 overs to nudge up to 173 for 5 from 35 overs, which given the conditions was a good effort from Ballymena’s bowlers.

Unfortunately for Ballymena CI’s bowlers also did a good job when Ballymena’s turn to bat came. The opening bowlers stuck to consistent line and length and after Adam Pogue departed early, James McClean and Jack Archer found boundaries hard to come by. Ballymena reached 29 for 1 off 10 overs.

Ballymena reached the half-way point at 64 for 3, requiring another 110 off 17 overs, which at slightly above a run a ball was still attainable. CI’s bowling continued to be tight however, restricting Dick and Justin Jolly mostly to singles as they ticked along at about 5 an over.

An excellent slower ball from CI captain Smith deceived Scott, caught behind for a superb quick-fire 44. With 10 now needed from 9 balls, the match was again on a knife edge with 8 wickets down.

A glanced 4 from Bell and a single left just 5 needed from the last over but CI’s opening bowler kept calm, dismissing Bell with 4 still required.

Frazer was last out for 16 with 3 needed off 3, an attempted pull shot mistimed to midwicket. CIYMS won by 2 runs with 2 balls remaining as Ballymena just failed to cross the line in a chase where the advantage had swayed to and fro between the 2 sides.

This was the 3rd league match of 4 played by Ballymena 3rds that was decided in the last over.