First are relegated from top flight

AT the start of this season commentators predicted that Lurgan's chances of staying in the top flight of NCU cricket were dependent on their ability to field a consistent team. Saturday was a prime example of what they meant and Lurgan went into a relegatiion battle against Ballymena.

In addition to Neil Anderson, Gareth Morrison, Michael Sloan and Davy Haire, who have been unavailable all season, also missing were Craig Irwin and Callum Grieve through injury, along with Marvin van Niekirk, Cameron Grieve, Stephen Chambers, Ben McKnight, Francois Viljoen, Peter Haire, James McCollum and Charlie McCrum due to work, holidays or other sporting committments.

It was therefore hardly surprising that a very much weakened team were crushed by nine wickets by Ballymena and had their relegation to section one confirmed.

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It was a good toss to win for the home side and Graeme Hunter and Stephen Johnston had moved the score to 29 before both openers departed in successive deliveries, Johnston bowled by Aphale for seven and Hunter caught at slip off Glass for 15.

After that wickets fell at frequent intervals until finally Peter Maxwell holed out to Montgomery at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Glass for a useful 24 and Lurgan had been bowled out for 153 in the 47th over. Nicky McCollum finished top scorer with an attractive 39.

In reply the result never looked in doubt with Ballymena openers Montgomery and Aphale putting on 110 for the first wicket before Montgomery was adjudged lbw to Godbole for 56, an innings that included nine fours and one six.

David Kennedy joined Aphale and both were there at the finish, Aphale not out 52 and Kennedy on 13 when the visitors passed the Lurgan total in the 20th over.

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The one positive Lurgan can take from the game was the debut of 14-year-old Matthew Bann who looks to be an exciting prospect for the future.

LURGAN

G Hunter ct D Kennedy b Glass 15

S Johnston b Aphale 7

N Godbole run out 18

A Bradford ct McDowell b Taylor 14

N McCollum ct R Kennedy b Thompson 39

M McShane b McDowell 0

J Dowds ct Aphale b Taylor 1

P Maxwell ct Montgomery b Glass 24

O McCollum ct Taylor b Thompson 8

C Courtney b Aphale 1

M Bann not out 3

Extras 23

Total for 10 wkts (46.2 overs) 153

Bowling: M Glass 8.2-0-38-2, K Aphale 10-1-18-2, M Taylor 10-0-36-2, S McDowell 10-3-18-1, D Thompson 8-0-33-2.

BALLYMENA

W Montgomery lbw b Godbole 56

K Aphale not out 52

D Kennedy not out 13

Extras 34

Total for 1 wkt (20 overs) 155

Bowling; C Courtney 2-0-21-0, M Bann 4-0-34-0, N McCollum 3-0-30-0, P Maxwell 5-0-26-0, N Godbole 4-0-20-0, O McCollum 2-0-21-0.

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