Lisburn suffer ‘cruel’ defeat as they lose off the last ball

The match took a number of twists during the 50 over encounter but it was the home side which, after two stoppages for rain, kept their nerve and chased a revised target of 153 off 46 overs.

Lisburn were keen to win the toss and Davey Simpson duly obliged and openers Robert Rankin and James Magown seemed to be in little trouble as they added 26 for the first wicket in 8 overs before Rankin was bowled by Coulter for 12 and he was quickly followed by Adam Berry who also was bowled by Coulter leaving Lisburn 32 for 2 after 9 overs.

The partnership of the talented James Magown, at last opening the batting after his hand injury, and Craig Ervine looked very promising for Lisburn but after 16 overs together and the addition of 56 runs before Magowan was clean bowled by Adair for a well constructed 39 including four boundaries.

The loss of Magowan heaped more pressure on the Lisburn ace Craig Ervine and he buckled down with Richard Simpson and the pair looked quite secure adding a further 16 when Ervine was extremely unlucky to be bowled off his pad and boot by Costain for 31 leaving his team in some difficulties at 104 for 4 after 30 overs.

Ricky Simpson, playing more positively this season joined up with the Lisburn pro, Darryl Brown and put on 19 for the 5th wicket before Brown missed a long hop and was the fifth Lisburn to be clean bowled. The score at this point was 123 with just 13 overs remaining and Lisburn looked to be heading for a well under par total.

Ricky Simpson reacted with some useful runs including a massive six but lost partners in Glen Halliday (3) and Mark Berry (0) before he too was clean bowled, this time by Adair for a stubborn 29. Richard McConkey remained 3 not out as Lisburn stumbled to a final total of 159 without the 50th over being completed.

Not for the first time this season, Lisburn had to make an early breakthrough having posted their score of 159 and they did well to take the wickets of van de Merwe and Cowden, both more than useful openers. Cowden was run out by Craig Ervine for 2 while van de Merwe was lbw to Davey Simpson for 19 as Civil Service/North managed 27 for 2 after 8 overs.

Jones and Getkate added 58 for the 3rd wicket seemingly taking the game away from Lisburn but in the 19th over, James Magowan broke the partnership when he clean bowled Jones for 15 and 5 overs later, Craig Ervine added to their problems when he caught and bowled Getkate for 36 as CSNI slumped to 88 for 4.

Lisburn’s hopes were further raised when Beverland was caught and bowled by Magowan but the CSNI pro Nieuwoudt set about settling the innings and with Adair took the score to 115 before Adair was brilliantly caught, low to his right, by veteran wicket keeper Trevor McKeown.

Following a rain break Civil Service/North required a revised target of 153 off 46 overs and after a further rain interruption they had to score 23 off the last 5 overs of a highly tense match.

Lisburn did not take another wicket until the score was 130 but the batsman dismissed was the dangerous Nieuwoudt for 23, well caught by Craig Ervine off the bowling of Davey Simpson.

Goodall and Coulter took their team to within 5 runs of winning the game when Lisburn struck back defiantly with two wickets in an over, both claimed by Richard McConkey, Goodall, clean bowled and Coulter caught by Darryl Brown as CSNI reached the precarious score of 148 for 9 with just an over left in the game.

Unfortunarely, due to the Duckworth/Lewis calculation, the bowlers quota is also reduced which prohibited Darryl Brown or Craig Ervine bowling the last over and the daunting task was given to Mark Berry who did well until the last ball was struck through mid wicket for the winning runs.

Once again, Lisburn had been ‘pipped at the post’ having recovered from a weak position with only 159 on the scoreboard but again their bowling had brought them within a ball of taking a win much against the odds.

The lack of runs is becoming a lasting problem for Lisburn and they will have to address the situation if they are to win against Brigade on Saturday in the Ulster Cup in Londonderry.

A win here would at least insure another cup match in a season which is rapidly being reduced in fixtures. The Ulster Cup gives the N.C.U. teams a chance to play against the North West sides but Lisburn will have to be more competitive if they are to see off a very useful Brigade team.