McClune hits a second century

ANOTHER impressive batting display helped Victoria to a massive 133 run win over PSNI at Newforge on Saturday.

Garry McClune hit his second century of the season and Darren Vennard also hit a half century while there was a good all round display by 15-year-old Craig Marshall.

Victoria’s openers Robert Black and Darren Vennard made a solid start before Black was trapped leg before on 11.

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Darren Vennard had the measure of the PSNI bowlers and was scoring freely. He was eventually out for 81 which included seven fours and five sixes.

Garry McClune then came to the middle to take up from where Vennard left off as he set about the PSNI bowling. He was ably supported by Bell who made 23 and Adam McClelland who made 23.

Craig Marshall weighed in with an excellent 38 as McClune went on to complete his second century of the season. He eventuually fell in the final over for 124, an innings that included 18 boundaries, four of them sixes.

The Victoria innings ended on 340, the second highest total this season in the NCU.

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When PSNI batted Victoria were unfortunate not to take early wickets as the batsmen rode their luck.

The initial breakthrough came when Smyth was caught by Iain McDowell off the bowling of Craig Marshall on 58. Marshall struck a couple of balls later, removing the dangerous Pearson.

David McDowell (Snr) then did some damage by taking three wickets - one to wonderful catch by McClune who dived full stretch to hold on to the ball.

Johnny Bunting then set about removing the PSNI tail, taking three of the final four wickets for a meagre 16 runs. A good ball from Iain McDowell left McCausland floundering in no-man’s-land to be stumped, by Bell, just as he was proving to be a thorn in Victoria’s side having notched up 37, to signal the end of the innings and a crushing victory.

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