Eagleson fires Carrick to a vital league victory

Carrick won the toss and batted first in perfect conditions, but lost opener Michael Gilmour for 14 in the fourth over.

Gordon Browne, promoted in the order, joined captain Iain Parkhill at the wicket and the pair saw the 50 up for their side in the 11th over before Browne fell lbw for 15.

Jamie Holmes was brilliantly caught by Aphale at square leg to reduce Carrick to 85 for 3 after 20 overs. Indrajeet Kamtekar joined Parkhill and they added a further 43 runs, with the Carrick skipper completing a fine 50 before he was caught for 57, which contained seven boundaries.

In came Ryan Eagleson and he and Kamtekar provided the major partnership of the Carrick innings, adding a further 93 runs in 16 overs to take their side’s total to 221. With two overs of the innings remaining, Kamtekar was caught for an excellent 67 which included six boundaries. Eagleson then cut loose, smashing a further 31 runs off the final two overs, to take the Carrick total to 253 for 6 after 50 overs. His personal tally was 76 off just 53 balls and contained six fours and three massive sixes.

In reply Derriaghy moved along to 68 for 3 after 20 overs, but their prolific overseas player Aphale was still there, and starting to find the boundary with increasing regularity.

He and Andrew Kenny added 60 runs in the following nine overs, before Kenny became wicketkeeper Browne’s third victim; caught behind in Eagleson’s first over for 30.

Aphale dominated the next dozen overs, completing a magnificent century with good support coming from Peter Bell. Together they added 87 runs taking the score along to 213 with 10 overs remaining when Kamtekar struck the vital blow for Carrick. He had fellow countryman Aphale well caught at long-off by Gilmour for 117.

Bell and skipper Jennings added 19 runs meaning they required 25 off the last four overs with five wickets intact.

With the score on 232, Jennings was run out and Cairnduff was bowled by Haggan off the next ball.

Eagleson ended Bell’s innings of 27 in the next over and a further run-out left the last two men at the wicket.

Eagleson finished the job, bowling Hughes with the first ball of the 50th and final over to leave Derriaghy all-out for 238.

Eagleson picked up three wickets, while Kamtekar and Alex Haggan took two apiece, and Richard Hood one, in what was a vital league win for Carrick.

Carrickfergus 253/5 (R Eagleson 76 not-out, I Kamtekar 67, I Parkhill 57, W Hughes 2-43, K Aphale 2-46)

Derriaghy 238 (K Aphale 117, A Kenny 30, P Bell 27, R Eagleson 3-32, A Haggan 2-38, I Kamtekar 2-45)

Carrickfergus won by 15 runs