Teenager inspires cricketers’ cup comeback

This Ballymena side has gained a reputation over the years for their refusal to accept defeat but surely they can never have staged a more unlikely comeback than this one.

Chasing a CI total of 172, Ballymena stumbled to 16 for 4 and then 32 for 5, due to a combination of indifferent top-order batting and good CI seam bowling.

Few bookmakers would have given odds on a Ballymena win at that stage, but the game changed dramatically when Robert Kennedy came to the middle.

The experienced Kennedy has played many fine backs-to-the-wall knocks over the years but surely no better one than this.

In partnership with Kaushik Aphale, who made a well-crafted 38, he gradually turned the game on its head. Kennedy mixed careful defence with well-placed drives and deflections; and, for a man who would cheerfully admit to being on the wrong side of 40, both his speed between the wickets and his eye for the quick single were outstanding.

When Aphale was out with the score at 106 CIYMS were still favourites but Kennedy then found a more than capable partner in Robert McKinley.

The 18-year-old Larne schoolboy had arrived at Eaton Park with a reputation mainly as an opening bowler but here he proved that he has serious batting credentials as well. Apparently unfazed by the increasing tension, he batted with genuine composure, solid in defence and quick to punish the occasional loose ball.

McKinley and Kennedy looked to have swung the game in Ballymena’s favour when, with the score at 152, the latter was controversially given out lbw. His outstanding innings of 70 came off 108 balls with 6 fours.

CIYMS must have scented blood at that stage but young McKinley kept his head as Michael Glass and then Fergus Taylor helped him inch Ballymena towards the target. Taylor was caught with the score at 170 but McKinley cut the first ball of the last over for two to win the game.

Earlier in the day McKinley had taken 4 wickets for 38 as the home team restricted CIYMS to 172 for 9 in their 50 overs. Ballymena’s bowling was good for much of the innings, though they will be disappointed that they conceded 72 runs in the last 10 overs as the impressive Richard Lucas and Craig Boltwood upped the tempo.

Michael Glass conceded only 6 runs in the last 6 overs of his accurate 10 over spell and young Fergus Taylor grabbed the vital wicket of professional Gulam Bodi.

NCU President Murray Power had the difficult task of nominating the Ulster Bank Man of the Match. His choice went to young McKinley for his all-round efforts, although few would have argued if Kennedy’s outstanding innings had gained him the award.