Downpatrick storm to confident victory

Downpatrick storm to confident victory

9 May 2012

DOWNPATRICK pulled off an impressive 35 run victory over Cliftonville in their second Ulster Bank Section 1 game of the season.

Having won the toss, Downpatrick skipper James Magowan elected to bat and his side got off to a slow but steady start with Dale Mullan and Ben McIlroy fending off the Cliftonville opening bowlers, taking the score to 45 before Mullan was trapped LBW for 17 in the 17th over.

Magowan then added a quickfire 13 before being caught at mid-off with the score on 62.

Temporary professional Naeem Ashraf then joined McIlroy and they took the total to 110 before McIlory was bowled for a gutsy 47.

Wickets then began to tumble at regular intervals with only Ashraf (39) and Gavin Ringland (23) making any significant contribution to the final total of 172 all out which looked to be well short of a match winning score.

However, the Downpatrick bowlers had other ideas and a fine opening spell of bowling by Justin Rea and Jonny Wheeler restricted Cliftonville to just 16 runs off their first 14 overs with three wickets down — Rea having the dangerous Cahill caught by Danny Carson in the third over and Wheeler clean bowling the other two victims.

Dale Mullan and Colin Magowan kept the pressure on the visitors with Mullan posting figures of two for 35 and Magowan finishing with one for 17 as the pendulum swung in favour of Downpatrick.

However, a good partnership between Turkington and Menaul for Cliftonville took their total through to 113 before Menaul was dismissed caught by Michael Carson off the bowling of his brother Danny.

The Cliftonville tail was cleaned up by Danny Carson, who claimed three wickets, and skipper Magowan, who captured the important wicket of Turkington, to complete a 35 run victory which will give a huge confidence boost to a young Downpatrick team.

Downpatrick will now concentrate on cup matches over the next two weeks when they entertain North West Section 1 team Drummond in the Irish National Cup (1pm at Strangford Road) and the following week travel to Bangor in the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup.

• Ulster Property Sales Man of the Match: Ben McIlroy.