Carrick showing positive signs despite Premier League defeats

Carrickfergus Cricket Club's players celebrate after North Down's overseas player Pieter Malan is stumped by wicketkeeper Gordon Browne. INLT 23-950-CON Photo: CricketEurope / Ian Johnston

North Down were the visitors to Middle Road on Saturday and they batted first. Carrick’s bowlers did well in restricting them to 148 for 5 after 40 overs, with the wickets shared among the bowlers.

Anthony Martin and Jamie Holmes took two wickets each and Ryan Eagleson bowled 10 accurate overs for only 15 runs, before being forced to leave the field after suffering an facial injury when attempting to take a skier on the boundary as North Down endeavoured to push the scoring rate along.

Eakin (62) and Ewing (46 not-out) cut loose and hammered 108 runs off the final 10 overs, taking their side to a formidable 256 for 7 at the end of their 50 overs.

Carrick never really looked like chasing down the North Down total, and were eventually bowled out for 157 in the 42nd over with Indrajeet Kamtekar (35) and Michael Gilmour (25) the main contributors.

Sunday’s rearranged league match at Civil Service North proved to be a closely-fought affair, but the home side emerged with a five-wicket win with only 10 balls to spare.

After a three-hour delay due to overnight rain, play got under way at 3pm with Carrick batting first in a match reduced to 39 overs. After a heavy shower early in the innings, this was further reduced to 36.

Carrick began cautiously and had struggled to 67 for 3 after 20 overs when skipper Iain Parkhill was stumped for 29.

Holmes and Kamtekar then added a further 83 runs in 15 overs to help Carrick to a competitive 155 for 5. Holmes hit an unbeaten 63 off 66 balls with five fours and a six. He received good support from Kamtekar who was out in the final over for 31.

CSNI’s openers fell cheaply, but a stubborn stand followed between Mansoor Amjad and Van der Merwe, who added 69 runs in 20 overs, before van der Merwe was bowled for 31.

CSNI were falling behind the run-rate, but a quick-fire 22 from Getkate rectified that. When he was dismissed his side needed 36 off 7 overs. They got home with 10 balls to spare as the players left the field at 8.25 pm.