Bowlers have their day as they ease past Lurgan

Openers, Adam Berry and Robert Rankin, were soon in good scoring form taking the game to the far from penetrative Lurgan attack.

Robert Rankin was in particularly good nick with some great shots and was first with his half century in just 58 balls. Partner Berry was more circumspect but the pair took the game away from Lurgan with a first wicket stand of 120 when Rankin was caught at mid off for a very good 63. The wicket fell in the 25th over.

Nathan Waller lasted only five balls before being caught weakly at square leg two overs later and worse was to follow.

A misjudgement between Adam Berry and Craig Ervine saw the Zimbabwean run out for just one and suddenly Lisburn had seized up at 130-3 but Berry was keen to push on and he along with a positive Darryl Brown carried the score to 168 before he too was caught for a patient 59 in the 40th over.

Lisburn’s chance of topping 250 was looking unlikely at this stage of the innings but Darryl Brown did not waste any time scoring a fine half century in just 45 balls being well supported by Lisburn,s skipper Davey Simpson in a stand of 50 in eight overs.

Darryl was bowled in the 48th over with the score at 218-5 and it was left to Simpson to farm the bowling and take the final tally to 238 for 7 He remained 26 not out at the end of Lisburn’s 50 overs leaving Lurgan with the target of 239 to win.

Lurgan’s openers, Johnston and Holmes, seemed in little trouble during the first few overs until the dangerous Johnston was lbw to Davey Simpson for 10 and when the Lurgan’s prolific scorer, professional Godbole was also adjudged lbw a delivery later, Lisburn were well on their way to victory.

Williams accounted for opener Holmes and Chambers and early in his spell as Lurgan collapsed to 50 for 4 in the 14th over. Anderson was next to be dismissed by Williams, brilliantly caught by Craig Ervine at mid off and Haire was lbw to Ervine in the next over, Lurgan were struggling badly at 62-7.

Williams and Ervine both claimed another wicket each before Davey Simpson came back to mop up the last two Lurgan wickets as the visitors were bustled out for a very unconvincing 81 in the 31st over.

Carl Williams took full advantage of the helpful conditions with figures of 4-27 off his 10 overs while Davey Simpson also claimed four wickets for just 17 runs. Craig Ervine also had an impressive spell with 2-24 off his 10 overs as Lisburn completed their fifth win with five games left to play.

The next game is against Civil Service/North in the Park on Sunday August 11 at 12pm.