Early wake up call for Lurgan

It was soundly delivered by Leinster League side Rush as the town side crashed heavily to defeat in the first round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup.

Lurgan won the toss and elected to field and it looked to have immediately paid dividends as Callum Grieve claimed the wicket of Rush opener A. Iqbal caught by skipper Peter Maxwell in the fifth over with the score on 12.

Indeed sharper catching, fielding and a little bit of luck could have rewarded Callum further for some hostile bowling that his figures of one for 52 off 10 didn’t reflect.

With three short boundaries and a lightening quick outfield the runs soon began to flow and Conway and Donnelly shared a century partnership before Niranjan Godbole bowled Donnelly for 71. Van Zyl followed Donnelly back to the pavilion shortly after for four courtesy of a caught and bowled by Nicky McCollum whose early overs proved economical.

This brought Shahid Iqbal to the crease in the 23rd over and a hesitant start by the tall Rush all-rounder gave the Lurgan bowlers little indication of what was about to follow. Iqbal demonstrated how the short perimeter of the ground should be exploited as he blasted an innings of 122 that included eight sixes and 11 fours with most of the Lurgan bowlers suffering at his hands.

He was ably supported by Owen Conway who was eventually dismissed by Nicky McCollum for an attractive 80 and Gull who finished not out on 30 as the Rush innings closed on 345 for six. Nicky McCollum claimed two of the Rush wickets to fall, his 10 overs yielding 60 runs.

With such a daunting total to pursue, Lurgan had little option but to chase from the word go and had 50 runs on the board after eight overs. However the runs came at a price and a combination of poor shot selection, some brilliant catching and a little bit of misfortune had Lurgan on the ropes at 60 for six.

Nicky McCollum then joined Stephen Johnston at the crease where a seventh wicket partnership of 73 brought the visitors total into the zone of respectability, before Johnston was deceived by a slightly slower flighted delivery from Van Zyl and holed out into the covers for 40 to bring the Lurgan total to 133 for seven.

Nicky McCollum departed soon after, caught brilliantly in the slips by Donnelly for 33, and Lurgan were eventually bowled out in the 30th over for 163 to leave Rush the winners by 182 runs.

Lurgan can take some positives from such a heavy defeat, particularly from the bowling of Callum Grieve and Nicky McCollum and the batting of Nicky and Stephen Johnston.

However the old adage of ‘catches win matches’ was demonstrated by the Leinster League side who held on to everything while Lurgan downed a number of chances that might have reduced the run chase to a more achievable target.

RUSH

A Iqbalct Maxwellb Grieve8

O Conwayb N McCollum80

M Donaldsonb Godbole71

D Van Zylct and bN McCollum4

S Iqbalct Maxwellb Van Niekirk122

P Sheridanct Godboleb Maxwell24

S Gullnot out30

Extras 6

Total for 6 wkts345

Bowling C Grieve 10-0-52-1, B Walters 6-0-63-0, P Maxwell 8-0-52-1, N Godbole 10-2-54-1, N McCollum 10-0-60-2, M van Niekirk 6-0-62-1

LURGAN

G Hunterct Sheehanb S Iqbal12

M van Niekirkct Sheridanb Gull13

N Godboleb S Iqbal17

S Chambersct Mullenb Gull8

R McCollum ct Iqbalb Gull2

P Hairelbwb Van Zyl0

S Johnstonct Gullb Van Zyl40

N McCollumct Donnellyb Conway33

P Maxwellnot out 8

C Grievect Sheehanb A Iqbal4

B Walterct Sheehanb A Iqbal13

Extras11

Total for 10 wkts 163

Bowling S Gull10-1-60-3, S Iqbal 6-1-21-2, D Van Zyl 6-0-28-2, E Conway 4-0-23-1, A Iqbal 2.5-0-10-2, N Donnelly 1-0-13-0