'Mr Chips' stars as Crindle crumble

With the conditions set fair Crindle won the toss and elected to make first use of a hard-baked surface. However, an inspired opening spell of bowling from Gareth Godfrey and Alistair Handforth soon had the Crindle top order reeling. Godfrey, on his comeback to the side, instigated the collapse, striking in the fifth over to dismiss the dangerous Jim McElwee for 13.

This wicket also gave wicket-keeper Clive Edgar, an off-season signing from Creevedonnell, his first catch for the club. McElwee’s dismissal triggered a collapse of epic proportions as Crindle proceeded to lose eight wickets for just seven runs.

Crindle’s top order batsmen had no answer to Godfrey’s accuracy as no fewer than six batsmen failed to trouble the scorers.

At the other end Alistair Handforth was equally impressive, producing three outstanding yorkers to compound Crindle’s misery further as the home side capitulated to 23-8.

However just as Coleraine were contemplating how they would spend the rest of their afternoon, a flurry of boundaries from the former Limavady batsman Gregory McDaid, made them realise that they would have to work hard for the victory.

The impressive McDaid held the innings together for Crindle taking the attack to the Coleraine bowlers, while number 10 Ashley Cowan, showed resolute defence at the other end.

Their stand of 77, of which Cowan produced only two, began to frustrate the Coleraine bowlers.

Immediately following the drinks break, Vice-captain David Doey collected his first scalp of the season, taking the all important wicket of McDaid, having him caught behind by Edgar as he looked to sweep behind square.

Two balls later Doey wrapped up the Crindle innings with his second wicket in the over. Crindle were eventually dismissed for 102 with Godfrey (5-26) and Handforth (3-13) starring with the ball.

In reply the newly formed opening partnership of Neil Morrison and Clive Edgar got Coleraine off to a positive start, adding 30 for the first wicket. After both openers fell Stephen McCartney provided the mature head Coleraine needed to anchor the innings. Once again Gregory McDaid was the main threat with ball as a crumbling surface began to produce uneven bounce.

However when McCartney fell for 9, Peter Wallace stepped up to the plate and provided a match winning performance with bat, showing a calm head in spite of some tight Crindle bowling.

The twenty-year-old student, showed great maturity in seeing off McDaid while looking to be positive as possible.

Wallace received solid support from Johnny Elder who fell attempting to finish the game off in style and would have felt unlucky to have been caught just inside the long on boundary.

That feat was left to Bernard Findlay who duly dispatched a juicy full toss to the mid wicket boundary to complete the victory.

Peter Wallace, who finished with an impressive 40 not out, once again showed his class in a battling display under pressure.

After the game captain Nigel Barr praised his side for their efforts.

“I’m pleased to start off the season with a win,” he said.

“Having secured the services of Clive Edgar I have a very strong squad of players to choose from and I firmly believe that we can win the league this season.”

However, Coleraine’s title ambitions will come under close scrutiny next Saturday as they entertain last season’s champions Bready at Sandle Lodge.

* COLERAINE Thirds defeated ast year’s intermediate IV champions Bready at the weekend.

Coleraine’s Andrew Douglas and Gerry McEwan opened the bowling. Once again, Douglas produced a fine spell with a steady and menacing line.

The revelation though, came in the form of new find McEwan, who produced an opening spell of destructive force, taking five wickets in his first four overs (finishing the match with 5 for 6).

Despite being 10 for 5 in the tenth over, Bready rallied to show exactly why they are a champion side, eventually managing to produce a presentable 130 all out (57 Crumley, 32 not out Fleming).

Brothers Paul (53) and Andrew Douglas proved their cricketing pedigree by scoring 91 for the loss of the first wicket. The pair had seen Coleraine safely to tea and expanded their game from the break to destroy the Bready resolve.

Andrew finished the game 40 not out with Michael Purvis striking an imperious cameo, including a lofted straight six that sailed out of the ample Bready field.