Lewis hurts Lurgan with bat and ball in rain hit encounter

The unique dimensions of Derriaghy Cricket ground surely make the ratio of sixes scored in games there higher than any other ground in the NCU.
Lurgans Paul Stafford claims his first wicket on Saturday as he has Derriaghys Peter Bell caught behind by  Stephen Chambers.Lurgans Paul Stafford claims his first wicket on Saturday as he has Derriaghys Peter Bell caught behind by  Stephen Chambers.
Lurgans Paul Stafford claims his first wicket on Saturday as he has Derriaghys Peter Bell caught behind by Stephen Chambers.

In the Ulster Bank Section 1 clash against Lurgan on Saturday, 26 sixes were scored during the match.

Derriaghy skipper Craig Lewis blasted, pulled and on occasions miss-hit and top edged 16 of these maximums as he lead his side to a 20 run (D/L) win over Lurgan in this rain affected encounter.

Batting first, Derriaghy kept the scoreboard ticking over but at 105 for 5 wickets after 20 overs, Lurgan were still very much in the game.

However they just could not remove Lewis. Batting at number 5, he arrived in the middle with Derriaghy in trouble at 39 for 3 wickets and was only dismissed after amassing a huge 181 runs, being the 9th wicket to fall with the total on 303.

All of the Lurgan bowlers suffered and so dominant was Lewis’s innings that only one other Derriaghy batsman scored more than 20 in a final total of 309 all out. Amid the mayhem, Paul Stafford and Oliver McCollum were the pick of the Town bowlers with Stafford taking 3 for 48 off 10 and McCollum 2 for 27 off 7 overs.

Lurgan’s reply got off to a great start and had reached 31 without loss in five overs when the heavens opened and a 10 minute cloudburst caused a 100 minute delay to proceedings.

Following the restart, Lurgan moved on to 50 for 1 with Stephen Johnston having been stumped by Ballantyne off Moorehead for 24, when a further shower had the players scampering for cover.

After a further 20 minute delay, play resumed with the Duckworth Lewis calculation setting Lurgan a total of 197 to win in 27 overs, a tough target on a very wet outfield.

The Town batsmen certainly played aggressive cricket and at one stage were 10 runs ahead on the par D/L run rate requirement.

It was only when man of the match Lewis broke the fifth wicket half century partnership between Peter Maxwell and Peter Haire (23) that the match swung back in Derriaghy’s favour.

In the end, Lurgan fell 20 runs short finishing on 177 for 6 wickets. Stephen Chambers hit a brisk 35 and Peter Maxwell finished on 34 not out.

Lurgan’s next game is at home to Bangor on Saturday.

The ball for Lurgan’s game at Derriaghy on Saturday was kindly sponsored by Alec Hamilton.

Related topics: