A Cricket Lesson for Dundrum

It was a great effort from all the groundstaff to have The Meadow in great shape. Waringstown captain Kyle McCallen with 7 Irish capped players in his team and the superb South African Obus Pieneaar had no hesitation  batting first on a dry wicket,  and it was just what the decent crowd was praying for. But it was what the Dundrum opening bowlers wanted as it was  their only hope of a shock result with Lee Connor nearly taking out James  Hallin the third ball, but the hard hit catch was dropped by Terry Hutley diving away to his right at mid off .

Kyle  McCallen  was out in the second over when he was adjudged lbw but was very unlucky as most heard the inside edge.  But Mark Yeates wasn’t disappointed as the big fella has been bowling superbly and he should have got the dangerous Lee Nelson on 11  but another catch was spilled  by Baptiste on just 11 runs.

The  West Indian  made amends after Hall  (28) lofted him over the river  by bowling him  with 44 runs coming in the first  7 overs.    Dundrum  have no doubt a very decent opening attack  and got a massive lift when Obus Pienaar was  again unlucky given out caught by wicket keeper John Tormey… bowler Mark Yeates was bowling quick and just in the right areas with 2 for 9 of 6 quick overs as Waringstown were 53 for 3 of 12 overs, and it was amazing that Greg Thompson survived a massive LBW appeal.

He was nearly walking  but Waringstown deserved a bit of luck and they never missed a chance to punish any loose ball and ran superbly. Dundrum have one of the best partnership breakers that I have seen in Gavin McNerlin with the very stylish Lee Nelson who took 53 runs including 7×4 and 1×6.

It was Thompson that was dictating the game. He got involved with a situation that was nothing to do with him,  but in Waringstown style he upped the tempo with some explosive hitting to all parts of The Meadow in his excellent knock of 71 littered with boundaries, 4 x sixes and  5×4.

Kester Baptiste got into the action as he took out 3 wickets in 3 overs giving him 4 for 53 in ten overs  – but 217 runs and still  11 overs was still on. Dundrum to there credit with three under 17’s  -Martin, Symington and Hutley  fielding  – were tested but they all gave 100% and bowled the mighty Waringstown out with 14 balls remaining.  Gavin had  2 for 44 of ten and John Tormey ran out  Gary Kidd and it was fitting that Lee Connor got his wicket with Eaglestone caught by Rahi Kakade with the total 264 .

Waringstown had signed Ireland A opening bowler Phil Eaglstone and he proved a class above Dundrum  taking 3 wickets in  his first 3 overs and made it 5 of the first 6 batsmen with no one getting double figures. It was  5 for 25 and he was to take 7 wickets in the Cup the following day so he is a very impressive opening bowler.

Dundrum had only two players to make double figures – Joel Maguire launched McCallen twice for six and  before the bowler extracted his revenge by hitting middle stump with left arm spinner.  Gary Kidd on 3 for 16 took out the tail Lee Connor (8) and Mark Yeates (4) and James Martin played well for 14,  but in attempting to hit another six of Kidd it was all over with only 61 runs and a massive defeat from the cup favourites who now play North Down in the next round .

The game was played in good spirits and it was disappointing that 3 Waringstown players were reported for dissent when a quiet talk afterwards  would have  been sufficient as it is also important that players care about the loss of there wicket.

Match Balls were sponsored by Boley Inn Hilltown