DUNDRUM lost a very important game against Templepatrick in The Meadow.
With 492 runs scored losing by just 16 but with 3 overs left they must feel it it was four points lost as they must now win at least 60% of the home fixtures writes Jeff Maquire.xa0
Templepatrick had suffered a 9 wicket defeat the previous day and when Mark Yeat’sxa0 2 for 50xa0got both Greer and Busby in successive balls it looked like it was dejavu but Australian Warren Clunes, and young Jay Hunter simply took advantage of far too much leg side lacklustre bowling.
The easy paced wicket and fast outfield xa0which allowed the runs toxa0flow and Clunes survived a dropped catch, but he was hitting some big shots with 3×6 and 8 crisp boundaries before again the partnership breaker. xa0Gavin McNerlin xa0at 1 for 45 struck in his second over getting Clunes attempting the hoik to mid wicket out lbw for 61xa0 with the total 121 for 3 or 26 overs .
Templepatrick have some talented young players and no doubt they will struggle to keep Jay Hunter who is a very good wicket keeper butxa0it was with the bat that he set the tone with super control over his shot selection as he was intent on batting 50 overs and posting a big target and he achieved a fantastic maiden chanceless xa0hundredxa0 with his tenth boundary.
Dundrum were definitely well short of control of the line and length but Rodney Hassard showed his experience bowling 7 tidy overs for just 24 and Rahi Kakadexa0 proved his worth with 3 for 32xa0 but Hunter at 107 and Kernaghan on 37xa0kept the total mounting as it was a massive 249 in 50 overs with Andy Bassett 2 for 52 .
Dundrum have got to learn the importance of building scores and keeping wickets in hand as then any target becomes so much easier but early wickets put huge pressure on the middle order, and the tail after Rodney Hassard hit 3 lovely boundaries before he misjudged a straight ball and left it only to see his off stump hitxa0 31 for 1 of 5 overs. xa0 Openerxa0 Gavin McNerlin xa0is just going through a rough time but he is a quality player and willxa0 score lots of runs but Clunes didn’t drop the second chance.
Templepatrick knew that if they could get Indian Kakade out they would surely win easily. However, xa0Rahi xa0Kakade started in his usual aggressivexa0 style hitting some classic shots xa0with eight boundaries in a quickfire 48, but after xa0hitting a six he holed out at mid wicket trying another. xa0With the score at 91 for 3 of 15 oversxa0 and left arm spinner Robert Smithxa0 4 for 43 , he xa0got Andyxa0 Bassett with the total unchanged.
The local team needed a partnership and captain Alan Tormey was the perfect foil for Joel Maguire who should have xa0been caught on 2 but was playing in the manner he should adopt as he is a very dangerous batsman, and Alan was caught trying to clear the in field for 20xa0 but the 65 runs came in positive fashion with Dundrum well in the game at 159xa0 for 5 with still 20 overs left. But when Joel Maguire fell for axa0 very patient and stylish 73 5x6xa0xa0 5X4xa0 with Dundrumxa0 187 for 7, it looked as if they were well beat but Mark Yeates fell for Clune’s effort to buy a wicket in his last over.
There is a thriving junior cricket section in Dundrum xa0with underxa011/13/15xa0teams and it was a chance for two of the Under-15 team to show the seniors that they are pushing for selection on all fronts with Terry Hutley and Jack Taylor raising the hopes of the vocal home support as they forged xa018 runsxa0 in 4 overs before Hutleyxa0 caressed a boundaryxa0 and might have been unlucky to be given out caught behind for 5 .
The equation was simple – could the last wicket get 38 runs with 6 overs left, and in fairness Jack Taylor showed even with a shoulder injury he has a good future. xa0He pulledxa0xa0Magee for a cracking shot behind square xa0as he and Maguire looked in no bother putting on 22 but Jeff 6 succumbed to the pressure and called a silly singlexa0trying to retain the strike xa0and was run out leaving Jack 11 not out and 16 runs short. This was a good attempt but there xa0was still 3 overs left and it was a schoolboy error not to take the game to the last over. Templepatrick fully deserved their win bouncing back after a trouncing the previous day so hopefully the villagers can do the same as they have two cup games in Dublin and Donegal .
Saturday: Irish National CUP xa0: Dundrum LCU v Dundrum NCU
Sunday: Ulster Shield: xa0 Stxa0 Johnstone v Dundrum
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