Carrick net first win of season

The home captain won the toss and asked Carrick to bat first on a ground affected by the week’s heavy rain. Openers Michael Gilmour and Richard Stirling scored 25 runs off the first eight overs, before Gilmour was caught at slip for 19, closely followed by Stirling who was caught at square-leg attempting to pull a short ball from ex-Ireland opening bowler Peter Connell.

Mikey Taiaroa and skipper Ross Gelderbloem took the score past the 50 mark in the 17th over, before both became victims of New Zealand pace-man Ben McCord. Carrick were now in some trouble at 58 for four, but Jamie Holmes and Ryan Eagleson then came to the rescue with what was to be easily the highest partnership of the match.

They batted together for 24 overs, contributing 74 runs to help their side post a competitive total. With the score on 132, Holmes was caught on the long on boundary in an attempt to push the score along, his contribution having been an invaluable 41 runs.

Eagleson, with the support of Jordan McClurkin and Alex Haggan, added a further 32 runs in the last six overs to give Carrick a total of 164 for six at the end of their 50 overs. Eagleson completed a well-deserved 50 just before the end - a gritty innings which would turn out to be a match-winning one for his side.

Eagleson then struck with the ball, bowling opener Boultwood with the first delivery of the CI innings, and following this up by trapping Connell leg-before-wicket (lbw) with the first ball of his second over.

South African professional Ghulam Bodi then arrived at the wicket and he and opener McCombe who was content just to stay there, took the score along to 46 before McCombe was finally fell lbw to Gelderbloem for eight.

A brilliant piece of fielding by Jamie Holmes saw the dangerous McCord run out with a direct hit on the stumps for four, and when Lucas was caught behind off Matthew Kernohan, CI had slumped to 65 for five off 21 overs.

However, Bodi remained at the wicket and was looking in good touch. Carrick then introduced spinners Holmes and Taiaroa, and in Holmes’s second over he captured the vital wicket of Bodi who hit a return catch to the bowler after just completing his 50.

Boultwood, Brittain, and Hughes all contributed further down the order for CIYMS but they never really looked like threatening Carrick’s total.

Holmes completed a superb all-round prformance with bat and ball and in the field by taking three wickets.

With the last two men at the wicket Ross Gelderbloem brought himself back with immediate effect, picking up the final wicket with his first ball to end proceedings with CI all-out in the 46th over for 142.

Carrickfergus 164 for six (R Eagleson 50*, J Holmes 41, P Connell 2-18, B McCord 2-27)

CIYMS 142 (G Bodi 50, G Brittain 26, C Boultwood 22, J Holmes 3-29, R Eagleson 2-18, R Gelderbloem 2-25)

This weekend Carrick have two vital Ulster Bank Premier League matches at Middle Road. On Saturday they host Ballymena, while on Sunday fellow strugglers Muckamore are the visitors. Both matches start at 12 noon.