Downpatrick are T-errific

Downpatrick are T-errific

24 July 2013

DOWNPATRICK retained the Lagan Valley Steels T/20 Trophy after a hard-fought three wicket win over Cliftonville on Wednesday night.

Victory in Wednesday’s final, which was held at Carrickfergus, ensures that James Magowan’s side have now captured three pieces of silverware in consecutive seasons.

Faced with near perfect playing conditions, it was no surprise that Cliftonville captain Brian Anderson opted to put his side in to bat upon winning the toss.

Things started well for Cliftonville’s opening batsmen Neil Cahill and Davy Munn, who shared a fruitful partnership of 47-runs before Munn (35) was run out in the eighth over, courtesy of a fine piece of fielding by Dan Carson.

New Zealander Shaun Fitzgibbon joined Cahill at the crease and the duo advanced the Cliftonville total to 79 off 10 overs.

However, the introduction of Ben McIlroy into the Downpatrick bowling attack paid dividends as he dismissed Cahill (21) in the 11th over.

The stubborn Fitzgibbon remained in the middle, and pushed Cliftonville past the 100-run mark in the 13th over.

Cliftonville then suffered a double-blow in the 14th over when John Wheeler accounted for the wickets of both Fitzgibbon (27) and Chris Whitten (10) to leave the scoreboard reading 102-4. A fifth wicket fell in the next over when Michael Turkington was run-out attempting a quick single.

Despite the best efforts of a resolute Downpatrick bowling attack, Cliftonville’s middle order duo of Aden Howe (21) and Jordan Hope (13) added crucial runs to see a final total of 143-6.

Downpatrick’s reply with the bat began positively, as openers James Magowan (20) and Paul Tate (21) made significant inroads on the Cliftonville total. The scoreboard had advanced to 42 by the start of the fifth over when Tate was caught off the bowling of Cliftonville skipper Brian Anderson.

Magowan followed in the sixth over, when he was undone by the spin bowling of Davy Munn; suddenly momentum was with Cliftonville.

This position was further strengthened when Munn had Downpatrick’s South African Professional Jancan Adams caught and bowled in the eighth over, leaving Downpatrick on 62-3.

Cliftonville continued to mount pressure in the field, and it was not long before a fourth wicket was added in the 10th over.

Ben McIlroy misplayed an Andy McCullough delivery, and was stumped by Shaun Fitzgibbon, reducing Downpatrick to 78-4 - in line with the run rate, but with wickets falling at an uncomfortable rate.

Hard-hitting Aaron Cairns contributed with a number of boundaries in a crucial knock of 21, but he was next to fall in the 11th over, and when Jamie Thompson came and went in the 14th over, Downpatrick were 104-6 and looked destined to surrender their T/20 title.

However, a match-winning partnership was forged between Ryan Smyth and Dale Mullan, which saw 32 runs added to the Downpatrick total in the space of just four overs to swing the balance of play back in favour of Downpatrick. Mullan (19) eventually succumbed to a Brian Anderson delivery in the 18th over, but by now Downpatrick were just 10 runs short of the required total.

Victory was ensured in the penultimate over of the contest, courtesy of a fine cover drive by man of the match Ryan Smyth, who remained unbeaten at the crease on 33.

Downpatrick 1st XI: J. Magowan (c), P. Tate, A. Cairns, J. Adams, B. McIlroy, R. Smyth (wk), J. Thompson, D. Mullan, J. Wheeler, D. Carson, T. Magowan.