CRICKET: Coleraine Seconds extend their unbeaten run

Given their recent good form Coleraine would have been hoping to post a massive first innings total having been inserted to bat by their opponents in glorious conditions.

However, their innings did not get off to the brightest of starts as Neil Morrison was caught behind in the second over for just one. Coleraine's batsmen struggled to find any real momentum against some tight bowling early on. Peter Wallace was the next wicket to fall to an excellent delivery from McKeever which cut back sharply.

The in-form Vishal Chopra was again in fine touch and was able to take advantage of any rare loose deliveries.

His score of 41 included eight boundaries and along with Stephen McCartney, took the score onto 67 at the midway point of the innings.

However, with the run rate at just above three runs an over Coleraine knew they needed to up the ante if they were to post a competitive target. After some good work from Jamie Magee to dismiss Chopra and McCartney in close succession Coleraine found themselves on the backfoot at 96 for 5 in the 26th over.

The turning point in the Coleraine innings came when Alistair Handforth was joined at the crease by JD Muller. Handforth again proved his credentials as a genuine top-order batsman, making his intentions clear from the outset by smashing Jamie Magee back over his head for six.

Handforth's aggressive intent seemed to throw the Nedd bowlers off, what up until then, had been an immaculate line and length. From this point on runs seem to come more freely with Muller proving himself an excellent foil for Handforth at the other end. He got off the mark with a number of neatly played flicks of his legs for four.

With the field pushed back Muller was content to pick up singles and was particularly impressive when driving straight down the ground. With such a small boundary at either end twos were not easy to come by, making the South African's score of 31 even more impressive.

Handforth meanwhile took a shine to the slow bowling of Ryan Magee, clubbing him back down the ground for two massive sixes. He then brought up his fifty with a stylish pull for six off the pacy Rio Burns. When Handforth was eventually bowled for a fantastic knock 54 it was clear that the partnership of 76 between himself and Muller in just eight overs had changed the course of the Coleraine innings.

Jonny Elder played an important cameo of 14 not out at the death and a rare run on the offside for skipper Nigel Barr took Coleraine's score up to 198 off their 40 overs.

Initially the Nedd reply got off to a slow start with the opening combination of Alistair Handforth and Andrew Douglas proving difficult to score off. As their spells progressed, however, their pace proved to be their undoing as thin edges and the slightest of touches behind square travelled to the short boundary at both ends.

At 49 without loss after ten overs, the Nedd looked to be in a great position to go on and win the game. However, the captain’s decision to introduce himself and Muller into the attack proved to be the turning point in the game. The all-important breakthrough came in Muller’s second over when Ryan Magee struck the ball powerfully down the ground towards long-on where Nigel Barr was well positioned to take a tremendous catch above his head just inside the boundary line.

Barr was at his typically miserly best from the other end and he finally got the reward he deserved in his final over, having the dangerous Declan McKeever caught at deep mid-wicket by Peter Wallace who showed excellent determination in running 15 yards to his left to take a stunning catch.

With both the Nedd openers back in the hut Coleraine now sensed the game was theirs for the taking. With the required rate steadily increasing the scene was set for Coleraine to turn to spin twins David Doey and Vishal Chopra.

Not for the first time this season, Doey proved immediately successful, picking up the wicket of Matthew Sherrard in his first over. This time it was Andrew Douglas who completed the dismissal with a well-judged swirling catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Vishal Chopra has saw his stock rise as a bowler in recent weeks and once again his off-spin proved extremely difficult to get away. The pressure of dot balls led to him collecting the wickets of Shaun McDermott and Rio Burns to rash shots.

Doey. who was getting the ball to kick and turn, clean bowled both Shaun and Richard Murray to add to his tally and his well-deserved five was completed by another excellent catch by Stephen McCartney at deep backward square.

This was another fantastic team performance and the improvement in catching will undoubtedly be the most pleasing aspect of their performance.

Captain Nigel Barr was clearly thrilled with the victory. He said: “To win our first five games is a great achievement but we know each match is going to be tough.”

Coleraine Seconds will hope they can transfer their excellent league form into the cup when they take on Burndennett at home on Saturday.