Cricket Report Monday 15th May
By Ballyclare High School on 15 May, 2023
The second block of McCullough Cup fixtures saw Ballyclare High complete four matches against Friends’ School Lisburn, with two wins and two defeats recorded.
The best performance came from the Under 14 side who enjoyed a comprehensive 117- run win. Jack Smyth and Cooper Donnelly both made 52* in Ballyclare’s total of 174/3, with Jack also taking 4 for 4 as Friends’ School reached 57/9.
The Under 15 team enjoyed their first win of the season. Batting first, they posted 77/8, thanks to Jude Wilson’s innings of 19 and a valuable partnership of 22 runs between Alex McAllister and Ryan Dodds. In a close finish, Friends’ School finished only 6 runs short of the Ballyclare total. Alex McAllister took 2 for 6, with Nathan Lynas and Stuart Thompson each taking a wicket. A feature of the game was good fielding and catching from the Ballyclare team.
Although they lost by 31 runs, after Friends’ School scored 106 for 5, the Under 13 side had some good individual performances, with Jacob Donnelly scoring 23 and J Nesbitt 20. Jacob Donnelly took 2/26, while Isaac Wilson had 1/23 and Sam Leetch took 1/8.
The Under 12s were also involved in a closely-contested match, eventually losing by the narrow margin of 3 wickets. Daniel Gerrish was the leading scorer with 11 runs while Scott Robson took 1/28 and Noah Thompson took 1/17.
As well as the McCullough Cup matches, several teams were scheduled to begin their knockout cup competitions.
A young 1st X1 travelled to Limavady Grammar and posted a respectable total of 78 for 3 off only 10 overs in a rain-affected match. Finn Lutton (38) and Andrew Leckey (26) both played good innings. Limavady eventually proved the winners by a margin of 9 wickets, but the winning runs were only scored off the penultimate delivery of their innings – a fine bowling and fielding effort from the Ballyclare side.
The Under 15 side were beaten by Lisneal College. Any prospects of reaching a meaningful total were undermined by some chaotic running between the wickets which contributed to several run outs. Ballyclare managed to delay the inevitable win for Lisneal until the ninth over, with economical spells by Evan Carlisle and by Jude Wilson, who took the only wicket to fall.
The Under 14 side progressed in their cup competition as Foyle conceded the scheduled first round contest.
