Drumaness make it four wins out of five

Drumaness make it four wins out of five

31 July 2013

DRUMANESS beat Larne by 28 runs on Saturday and have now won four out of their last five games.

Drumaness won the toss and elected to bat first at Sandy Bay. Openers James Cunningham and Neil Gelston started positively and this pair gave Drumaness a great start and had reached 55 after 11 overs.

However, Gelston was to fall in the 12th over as he went back to a delivery from left arm spinner C. Dempsey for 26. Gary Walsh joined Cunningham and the pair continued to add the runs.

Cunningham was putting away any loose deliveries and he soon brought up his half century. Gary Walsh was to fall last ball of Dempsey’s spell, caught at short fine leg by a quicker ball.

This ended a 61-run partnership and Drumaness were 116 for 2. Neil Walsh was next man in, but did not last long as he was caught at mid-wicket off Singh for 5.

Martin Gartland joined Cunningham, but with the score on 150 Cunningham’s innings was to come to an end when he was adjudged lbw off Baxter for 71.

Conor Deegan was next in and he and Gartland continued positively. Gartland, in particular, was hitting the ball well, but four wickets were to fall for 11 runs, beginning when Gartland was caught at long off for a quick-fire 24.

Darren Oldroyd was the next to go, caught at cover for four, soon followed by Deegan, who was caught at mid-off for 13, and finally Brendan Gelston, who was bowled for 0. Drumaness were 193 for 8 with five overs left and in need of late runs. They came in the form of Alistair Coburn and Martin Walsh, the pair finding the boundary and adding 20 before Walsh was bowled for 12.

Richard Tuohy was last man in and he battled sensibly to give Coburn the strike and he hit the final two balls of the 49th over for 6. However, he too was to go when in the last over he was caught at point for an excellent 22. Richard Tuohy was two not out as Drumaness finished on 230.

In reply, Larne started well and Drumaness had their backs against the wall. Larne had reached 70 without loss in the 20th over before skipper Neil Gelston had Baxter adjudged lbw for 29.

C. Dempsey was soon to follow, caught at slip by Brendan Gelston off Neil Gelston, and Drumaness were starting to fight back. Neil Gelston bowled a great spell and finished with figures of 2 for 15 off his ten overs.

K. Singh was the next Larne wicket to fall with 97 on the board, caught well at long off by Neil Gelston off Neil Walsh.

Ruys joined Alexander, who had reached 50 by this stage, and the pair formed a dangerous partnership, punishing any loose deliveries.

With the score on 145, Martin Gartland was the man to break the partnership when he had Ruys caught at backward point by Martin Walsh.

Drumaness introduced Brendan Gelston and he was the man to get the vital wicket as he had Alexander caught at square leg by Neil Gelston for 67.

Brendan was to get another wicket when he had T. Dempsey adjudged lbw and Larne were 162 for 6. This was to be 162 for 7 when Leitch was run out from a fine throw from the mid-wicket boundary by Darren Oldroyd.

Larne required 10 an over at this stage and Oldroyd was to pick up a wicket with the score on 187 when he bowled Gaw.

Larne were struggling now and Oldroyd and Brendan Gelston bowled the final overs well as Larne were to finish on 202 for 8 off their 50 overs, leaving Drumaness victors by 28 runs. Brendan Gelston finished with with two wickets for 31 runs.

Drumaness play Bangor away on Saturday and Academy away on Sunday.