Lisburn downed in friendly despite positive display

Batting first on the artificial wicket at The Lawn, the visitors lost both Robert Rankin and Adam Berry quite early leaving Lisburn at 18 for two but Craig Ervine and Richard settled the innings with a good partnership of 80 in even time before Ervine, batting well, was surprisingly out for 36 off 48 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six during his time at the crease.

Richard Simpson continued on his way with the assistance of the Lisburn professional Darryl Brown and the pair took the score to 151 before Simpson was dismissed for a very good 51 off just 58 balls.

Brown, however, was joined by Lisburn skipper, Davey Simpson and the pair had another good stand of 65 with both players striking the ball with a lot of confidence.

The partnership was broken when Simpson was out for 34 off just 41 balls but Darryl went on to the top score of the innings with a fine 57 scored off only 57 balls with six boundaries and a large six.

The pair had taken the Lisburn score to 216 and after the 40 overs were completed, the visitors had managed the more than useful tally of 238 runs for six wickets.

North Down also lost two early wickets before Sutherland and Shields added 78 for the third wicket before Davey Simpson dismissed both of them with successive deliveries, leaving the home side on 122 for two.

Ervine and Ryan Haire added a further 28 before key man Haire was out for 24.

North Down were slowly falling behind the run rate with just eight overs left but new professional Muir suddenly broke loose and with a blast of runs during the final overs, he added an impressive 71 with Andrew Haire to win the match.

He had struck 34 not out with three boundaries and three massive sixes and with Haire also not out on 43, they pulled off an unlikely four wicket win with two overs to spare.

Lisburn had certainly battled well for most of the game with a number of them showing good form with the 2014 Premier League season just around the corner.

Captain Davey Simpson led by example and he was the pick of the Lisburn bowlers with two for 25 off five overs while Craig Ervine with one for 27, Carl Williams, one for 21, Graham Brown, one for 35 and Mark Berry, one for 34 were responsible for the four other North Down wickets to fall.