McMillan stars for CIYMS

NEW Zealand test international Craig McMillan steered CIYMS to victory against Lurgan at Pollock Park on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jul 2010, 10:44 BST
Updated 27th Jul 2010, 18:33 BST

McMillan has scored nearly 40 centuries in his career, including ' tons' against Pakistan and Australia, and added Lurgan to his list on Saturday as he hit 113.

Although surviving a confident Lurgan appeal in his 70s, McMillan was in devastating form, his century peppered with fours and sixes.

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Fielding first Lurgan broke the visitors’ opening partnership with the score on 35 when Niranjan Godbole had Jenkinson trapped lbw for 9.

This brought McMillan to the crease to partner fellow New Zealander Ben McCord and any Lurgan bowling not on line and length was severely punished.

Nicky McCollum had McCord caught by Viljoen for 53 with the score on 123 and then Derek Heasley played a nice cameo innings in support of McMillan before town skipper Peter Maxwell dismissed him lbw for 25.

Maxwell also claimed the wicket of McMillan, having been denied the earlier lbw shout, and Lurgan did well to restrict CIYMS to 279 for nine when a total well in excess of 300 seemed possible when McMillan was in full cry.

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Peter Maxwell returned the best bowling figures for the home side with four for 50 off his 10 overs and Niranjan Godbole took three for 53 off nine.

280 to win was a formidable total to chase and it seemed even further away when opener Cameron Grieve struck a delivery from Derek Heasley straight at Neil Gelston, who held a good head high catch to dismiss Cameron for four with the total on five.

Adam Bradford and Francois Viljoen, batting at number three, were scoring freely but the run rate was starting to creep up. Lurgan had reached 65 when Bradford was out to a superb catch taken low down in front of the Pollock Drive sightscreen off the bowling of Adams for 36.

Niranjan Godbole (14) and James McCollum (25) were next to depart to leave Lurgan on 162 for four but while Viljoen still at the crease there was still an outside chance for the home team to nick a win. However the run rate was still climbing and once Viljoen departed for an excellent 94, given out lbw to McMillan, Lurgan’s fate was sealed.

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Ben McKnight was a valiant 30 not out as Lurgan finished on 228 for seven, 51 runs short of the CIYMS total.

SUNDAY

On the Sunday a weakened Lurgan side lost to CSNI by 94 runs at Pollock Park.

CSNI made 262 for four in their 50 overs with Lurgan hittng168 all out in reply. Niranjan Godbole top scored with 60.