Lurgan fall 78 runs short in high scoring encounter

Sadly, from a Lurgan point of view, most of them went to Downpatrick as the visitors ran out winners by 78 runs in the Ulster Bank Section 1 clash.

A poor second half bowling display by Lurgan saw the visitors pass the 300 mark with professional Amit Patil scoring an excellent 153, eventually being dismissed by Ferris shortly before the innings ended.

Downpatrick had begun scoring quickly but two early wickets for Zaheer and one for Baig kept Lurgan in the hunt.

Tight spin bowling by Godbole and Stafford and the dismissal of Smyth, bowled by Stafford with the score on 100, had the home side in potentially a good position at the drinks break, with Downpatrick on 125 for 4 wickets.

However that was soon to change as a fifth wicket partnership of 194 between Amit Patil (153) and Gavin Ringland (87) combined with some poor bowling from the home side took the game away from Lurgan and put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.

The innings closed on 307 for 7 after 50 overs with Paul Stafford (1 for 33 off 10) and Niranjan Godbole (0 for 28 off 10) being the pick of the Lurgan bowlers while there were two late wickets for the promising Nathanial Ferris.

Lurgan openers Derek Wilson and Callum Grieve started off the run chase and had quickly moved to 40 when Wilson was run out for 19 at the bowler’s end, having been sent back by Grieve.

Stephen Chambers joined Grieve and both kept Lurgan up with the run rate until Chambers received the most controversial decision of the day, being given out leg before for 19 to a ball that could arguably have been drifting down the leg side. Baig then departed lbw for a duck and it was soon 99 for 4 when Grieve was trapped in front by century maker Patil for 42.

A 90 run fifth wicket partnership between Niranjan Godbole and Peter Haire kept the home side in the match until Godbole was out lbw to a delivery from Carson that kept slightly low and he was gone for 55.

Peter Haire followed almost immediately caught by Mullan off Tate for 38 and with them went any hope of Lurgan winning the game.

The match ended in the 42nd over with Lurgan being dismissed for 229 runs. Downpatrick’s Amit Patil rounded off a superb display by taking 4 wickets for 32 runs.

The ball sponsors for Lurgan’s games last week were Lloyd McIlwaine and John Neil.