Terrier Tate inspires leaders Downpatrick

Terrier Tate inspires leaders Downpatrick

3 July 2013

DOWNPATRICK are back at the top of the Ulster Bank Section 1 table after a hard-fought four-wicket win over Derriaghy at Strangford Road on Saturday afternoon.

Jancan Adams opened the bowling for Downpatrick, and it was the South African who made the early breakthrough in just the third over when he bowled Jennings, with the scoreboard reading just six.

Adams struck again just two overs later when his swing bowling encouraged a nick from Derriaghy’s Rob Cummins, which was gratefully snapped up at second slip by Paul Tate.

Derriaghy responded with a 43-run partnership between Matty Ballantyne and Indian professional Yogesh Takawale, which saw the scoreboard reach 48, before the Magowan brothers struck to dismiss Ballantyne for a useful 20, James taking the catch of brother Thomas’s spin bowling.

Takawale was then joined by the hard-hitting Craig Lewis and the duo shared a 52-run partnership to take the Derriaghy total to the 100-run mark.

It was at this point where Justin Rea was introduced into the Downpatrick bowling attack to deadly effect.

In the 27th over, Rea firstly accounted for the wicket of Lewis (35) before going on to dismiss Peter Bell, courtesy of a catch from ‘keeper Ryan Smyth, leaving Derriaghy on 100-5. Rea struck again in the 29th over, this time taking the prized wicket of Takawale, who departed for 43.

Derriaghy’s problems worsened in the 33rd over when Dean Ferris became Justin Rea’s fourth wicket of the day, thanks to the safe hands of Aaron Cairns, leaving the scoreboard reading 120-7.

Rea’s ruthless bowling spell continued as he picked up the wickets of brothers Wayne and Scott Hughes to finish with excellent figures of 6-29 from his seven over spell.

Despite a handful of additional runs being added in the final exchanges, it was left to Jancan Adams to dismiss Mark Stinson in the 38th over with Derriaghy being dismissed for just 134. South African Adams returned fine bowing figures of 3-20.

A determined Derriaghy side took to the field and immediately heaped pressure on Downpatrick openers Paul Tate and Ryan Smyth. This approach paid off as opener Craig Lewis clean bowled Smyth with just the fifth delivery of the innings.

James Magowan entered the fray earlier than expected, but was able to shore up the Downpatrick response alongside Paul Tate, as the duo advanced the score to 42. Magowan (23) was, however, undone in the 9th over by the spin bowling of Wayne Hughes.

Hughes struck again in the same over, this time claiming the prized wicket of Jancan Adams, who departed for a duck. Derriaghy were right back in the contest, with the hosts struggling on 42-3.

Tate was joined by Aaron Cairns, and the pair moved Downpatrick past the half-century mark before Cairns was also back in the pavilion, again undone by the spin bowling of Wayne Hughes. The Derriaghy spinner would go on to record figures of 3-23 from his 10 over spell.

Crucially for Downpatrick, Paul Tate remained at the crease. The opener was joined by Gavin Ringland and the scoreboard advanced to 86 before Ringland was trapped LBW by Yogesh Takawale in the 22nd over.

Soon after, Paul Tate was celebrating his first half century of the season, in what was proving to be a crucial knock for Downpatrick.

Tate and Justin Rea advanced the Downpatrick score to 122 from 35 overs, before an impressive batting display from Paul Tate came to an end, courtesy of Craig Lewis.

Despite the occasional batting wobble, it was left to Dale Mullan and man-of-the-match Justin Rea to secure victory for Downpatrick, the middle-order duo shared an 18-run partnership to guide Downpatrick to victory in the 41st over.

Downpatrick Cricket Club would like to thank Joe McComb for sponsoring the match ball.

Downpatrick: P. Tate, R. Smyth (wk), J. Magowan (c), J. Adams, A. Cairns, G. Ringland, J. Rea, D. Mullan, D. Carson, J. Wheeler, T. Magowan. UPS man of the match: Justin Rea.