Greer’s Templepatrick get the better of Cliftonville

Senior League Section 1 leaders Cliftonville came a cropper at The Cloughan, where Templepatrick cruised home with six wickets to spare.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jul 2014, 11:00 BST
Templepatrick captain, Ricky Greer.Templepatrick captain, Ricky Greer.
Templepatrick captain, Ricky Greer.

Opting to take first knock in Saturday’s clash, the visitors were bowled out for 145 in their 50 overs. Robert Smith and Chris Busby shared the bowling honours with two wickets each, while Rhydian Davies and Ross Bryans had one apiece.

In reply Richard Greer’s lads started confidently with Jay Hunter (30) and James Jackson (25) laying a firm foundation with an opening partnership of 50.

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Smith kept the scoreboard ticking over with 26, while overseas player Bob Homani top-scored with 32 not-out as Templepatrick reached the target on 146 for 4.

“Four wins from seven is an encouraging start to the season in a fiercely contested section, with this win lifting us to joint-third in the table,” confirmed skipper, Greer.

“Tight bowling by Robert Smith and Chris Busby, who each had four maidens in their 10 overs, kept the Cliftonville batsmen under pressure after they lost their first two wickets with only 13 runs on the board. Our fielding was also sharp, with Jay Hunter throwing down the stumps with a direct hit from mid-on for the run-out.

“Tasked with scoring at under three an over to win, the boys had plenty of time to clinch the points,” he confirmed.

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Summary: Cliftonville 145 for 8; R Smith 2 for 14, C Busby 2 for 18, Jordi Fettis 1 for 52, Davies 1 for 20.

Templepatrick 146 for 4; Bob Homani 32 not out, Jay Hunter 30, Robert Smith 26, James Jackson 25.

Templepatrick won by six wickets.

Phil Kernaghan’s unbeaten 74 wasn’t enough to save Templepatrick II from defeat at Moylena.

When skipper Andy McCrea won the toss and opted to bat, he must have been quite happy with his side’s total of 207 for 7 in their 40 overs, but Muckamore II raced to a win by nine wickets in a Junior League Section 2 fixture.

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“We found difficulty in dislodging their openers Peter Bates and Sam Gordon who had an opening partnership of almost two hundred,” said McCrea.

“Eventually 16-year-old Andy McCalmont dismissed Gordon for 89, but that was our only success,” he confirmed.

Summary: Templepatrick II 207; Phil Kernaghan 74 not out, Mark Thompson 47, S Henderson 4 for 35.

Muckamore II; 208 for 1, Peter Bates 90 not-out, Sam Gordon 89.

Muckamore II won by nine wickets.