Firsts bag an 
important win to move into mid-table

Millpark batted first in their league encounter away to Cregagh.
Millpark's Ben Talbot  - Edward Byrne Photography INBL17-206EBMillpark's Ben Talbot  - Edward Byrne Photography INBL17-206EB
Millpark's Ben Talbot - Edward Byrne Photography INBL17-206EB

Not unusually for this season, they soon found themselves a wicket down as Charlie McCrum was out early for just six.

Ben Talbot soon followed for four, but at 30-2 Millpark managed to steady the ship.

Leading batsman Keith Dempster soon got to work taking the attack to the opposition.

He started steadily with partner Ikram, building a solid base for later acceleration.

Ikram made 27, Martin 19 and Ali 38 not out, but it was Dempster who was the star of the show.

In a chanceless innings, he hit the ball with genuine power, launching the ball out of the ground on more than one occasion.

Millpark closed their innings on a satisfying 209-6, Dempster out shortly before the end for a hugely satisfying 84.

The Cregagh batsmen found it hard to settle as Ali (2-34) and Martin (2-14) reduced them to 41-3.

Charlie McCrum (2-22) got in on the action, and along with three run outs and one wicket for Davy Glover, Cregagh were dismissed for 149.

An important win that sees Millpark starting the climb to mid table.

Millpark 2nd XI vs Donaghadee 2nd XI

Millpark’s Second XI entertained Donaghadee at Banford Green on Sunday in a league encounter.

Millpark batted first, and it was not long before they were a wicket down, as Andrew Woods skied the ball for a return catch to the bowler.

Ryan McCart made 9 before he too was back in the hutch, closely followed by Callum Barnes (1).

Mikey Willis, son of big hitting Vicky, came in at number five and played a mature watchful innings of 21, moving the score along nicely with opener Paul McCart.

Once Willis had departed, he was closely followed by the next three batsmen, who mustered zero between them.

Johnny Breen launched a couple of big shots in a brief cameo of ten, and Jim Lockhart then played support to McCart to close things out.

McCart had played steadily throughout the innings, and went to town in those last few overs as he racked up an impressive 68 not out. Millpark closed on 129-9.

The locals soon had the Donaghadee reply under pressure as young Harry Lockhart took the first of his wickets.

His opening partner was debutant Paul McGarry, and he too was soon in on the act.

Both bowlers regularly took wickets, although S Worral did briefly take up the cudgels in his 23 before McGarry sent him back to the pavilion.

Lockhart bowled with unerring accuracy, while McGarry - who just missed out on a hat trick- combined control with dangerous swing.

The former finished with wonderful figures of 5-24, the latter an impressive 4-20.

Donaghadee were all out for 51. A great Millpark team performance which should really encourage this blend of youth and experience to push on in the second half of the season