Thompson whirlwind puts Dundrum into safety zone

Thompson whirlwind puts Dundrum into safety zone

26 September 2012

DUNDRUM won their last game of a long, wet season and avoided relegation after beating Holywood on Sunday.

This win may have ensured Dundrum’s tenure in Section 1, but it condemned the visitors to relegation.

Dundrum had only played three games at home this year after switching three away, but were still unbeaten at the Meadow an had no hesitation bowling first in this crunch 20 over decider.

Ross Adair quickly showed the bowlers that he was going to punish any loose deliveries with 18 coming in the first two overs, but Lee Connor bowled Mark Adair in his second over and then removed captain Philip McCormick lbw.

Connor had figures of 2 for 33 and if Joel Maguire (inset)  had not ped Ross Adair to a diving catch, the game would been as good as over. But like all dangerous batsmen, Ross Adair made them pay with a superb innings full of classic shots.

Dundrum’s captain Alan Tormey has got a good response out of his troops and made some good positive early decisions. He took off Bassett after one over and turned to spinner Joel Maguire, who again was on the money with four tidy overs for just 15.

Ross Adair was keeping his side in the game, bringing up his half century with another six, but he just didn’t get any support as the wickets were tumbling at the other end.

He was the only Holywood player to reach double figures and he hit a superb 86 not out, including ten fours and 3 sixes, in a total of 129.

Gavin McNerlin, 1 for 32, was a bit unlucky, but Andy Bassett came back and bowled superbly in his last three overs for only 11 runs which kept the score down.

Holywood’s young fast bowler Mark Adair is definitely quick on his day and bowled far better than his figures of 4 overs 1 for just 11 runs,   including the prized wicket of Rodney Hassard.

But Andy Bassett was in aggressive mood and he blasted his way to 26 before William Belfort got him lbw with the score on 45 for 2.

The villagers looked in trouble when Gavin McNerlin was adjudged lbw for 5 and next ball Joel Maguire lofted Adair for a straight six, but with the score on 74, Joel was bowled by McCormick.

It looked like Holywood were on top, but Dave Watson (22 not out) was playing simple cricket, taking plenty of singles and rotating the strike, but the innings that completely changed the result was Henry Thompson’s (50 not out).

He launched a massive assault on William Belfort’s third over hitting 30 runs with some superb hitting with five big sixes in one over as he raced to his half century in only 13 scoring shots, which was awesome shooting from the talented all rounder.

It was fitting that former captain Dave Watson and Thompson got Dundrum home safe with 16 balls and six wickets to spare.