Cricket Report Tuesday 9th May
By Ballyclare High School on 9 May, 2023
After a period of sustained practice, well attended by the members of all teams, the new cricket season got off to a limited start for Ballyclare High School.
Only the 1st X1 and the Under 13 team played their matches in the first block of Saturday McCullough Cup fixtures as Foyle College were unable to fulfil all the scheduled fixtures. While the 1st X1 suffered defeat, pride of place went to the Under 13 team who recorded a useful win.
A dropped catch from the first delivery of the match proved costly as Foyle College 1st X1 managed to accumulate 139 for 2 from their allocated 20 overs despite promising bowling from Luke Wilson and Adam Kerr. The Foyle bowling was accurate and penetrative and posed a major challenge to the Ballyclare batting line-up. Luke Wilson and Isaac Manson, in particular, offered stubborn resistance and ensured that Ballyclare managed to bat the full quota of overs, albeit falling well short of the target for the run chase.
The Under 13s scored 95 against Foyle with innings of 26 not out from Jacob Donnelly, 15 for Ben Huxley and 13 for Daniel Jenkins. In a keenly contested game, Foyle fell only 8 runs short in their run chase with Daniel Jenkins and Sam Leetch both taking two wickets.
The draws for the first round of the various cup competitions have presented the School with challenging fixtures and several long journeys to away matches.
The 1st X1 will be away to Limavady Grammar and the Under 15 will be away to Lisneal College. A talented Under 14 team is due to travel to Foyle College while the Under 13s will enjoy home advantage against Campbell College.
The Under 12 side faced strong opposition away to Strabane Academy in the Centenary Cup but emerged with credit, totalling 65 all out and making their opponents work hard to complete the run chase. Alfie Critchley was the most effective batsman, while bowlers Daniel Gerrish, Scott Robson, Noah Thompson and Ollie McKee enjoyed the challenge of trying to control the run rate during the Strabane innings.
The next block of McCullough Cup fixtures is scheduled to take place on Saturday 13th May against Friends’ School Lisburn.
