So near yet so far as Millpark lose by two wickets

Millpark travelled to The Mall on Saturday to face fellow mid-table team Armagh. In glorious sunshine Millpark batted first on a good wicket and a fast outfield.

A big score was the order of the day, and while Millpark did eventually scramble towards that, it was very much down to a rescue job by the tail.

Charlie McCrum was back in the pavilion for just two with the score on 15. Ryan McCart could muster just eight, and Keith Dempster managed just nine.

Ben Talbot made 21 before Davy Glover, captain for the day, contributed 23.

Stu McCart made just six and Millpark were soon in serious trouble at 123-8. Roshan Jose then struck the ball well before he perished for 23, bringing old hand Stevie McCart to the crease. He played the anchor role while James Wright took the role of the aggressor.

They brought the score up to 191 before Wright was frustrated to feather one behind to the keeper, having also made 23. McCart was left undefeated on four.

While several batsmen had made a good start, four making it into the twenties, Millpark’s best contribution came from extras, which racked up an undefeated half century.

Villiers was first to go, skying Stu McCart to Glover, and he departed the scene for just five. Fellow opener Hoey managed to do just the same and he was out to Ali, caught well by Dempster for 12. Robinson was then well taken lby McCrum at slip for a duck, and Doyle soon followed.

Nonetheless, Armagh had reached 108-4 at this stage, as Steenson (46) and Russell (51) batted well. Glover had Steenson out for 46, quite brilliantly caught by Talbot in the deep, his batting partner later caught by the same player, this time off McCrum.

Millpark had their opponents reeling on 147-8 as numbers 6 and 7 went cheaply, and an unlikely victory was in sight.

H Doyle (33no) and G McCarter (19no) did extremely well to see their team home by two wickets

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