Two defeats for Carrick
Although newly promoted Carrickfergus Cricket Club 1st XI suffered two Premier League defeats at the weekend, they competed well in both matches, and with a full strength side, and given the breaks, they will feel that they can compete at this level.
On Saturday North Down were the visitors at Middle Road in a match kindly sponsored by Gap Wines. The visitors batted first, and Carrick’s bowlers did well in restricting them to 148 for 5 after 40 overs, with the wickets shared among the bowlers. Anthony Martin and Jamie Holmes took two wickets each, and Ryan Eagleson bowled 10 accurate overs for only 15 runs, before being forced to leave the field after suffering an unfortunate facial injury when attempting to take a skier on the boundary as North Down attempted to push the scoring rate along. Eakin (62) and Ewing (46no) cut loose and hammered 108 runs off the final 10 overs, to take their side to a formidable 256 for 7 at the end of their 50 overs.
Carrick never really looked like chasing down the North Down total, and were eventually bowled out for 157 in the 42nd over, with Indrajeet Kamtekar (35), and Michael Gilmour (25) being the main contributors.
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Carrick travelled to Stormont on Sunday for a rearranged league match against Civil Service North, and in a closely fought game, the home side had a 5 wicket win with only 10 balls to spare.
Following a 3 hour delay due to overnight rain, play finally got underway at 3pm with Carrick batting first in a match reduced to 39 overs, and after a heavy shower early in the innings this was further reduced to 36. Carrick started cautiously, and had struggled to 67 for 3 after 20 overs when skipper Iain Parkhill was stumped for 29. Jamie Holmes and Indrajeet Kamtekar then added a further 83 runs in 15 overs to help Carrick to a competitive 155 for 5 at the end of their 36 overs. Holmes hit a fine unbeaten 63 off 66 balls with five 4’s and a 6, and he received good support from Kamy who was out in the final over for 31.
CSNI’s openers fell cheaply, but a stubborn stand followed between professional Mansoor Amjad and van der Merwe, who added 69 runs in 20 overs before van der Merwe was bowled for 31. CSNI were falling behind the run rate, but a quick-fire 22 from Getkate rectified that, and when he was dismissed his side needed 36 off 7 overs. They got home in the end with 10 balls to spare as the players left the field at 8.25 pm.
Carrick 2nds through in Cup
Carrick’s unbeaten 2nd XI eased into the quarter finals of the Intermediate Cup with a comfortable 86 run victory over Instonians III on Saturday.
Carrick batted first and Adam Fittis batted throughout their 40 overs scoring an impressive 81 not out as Carrick scored a 245 for 5. He shared an opening stand of 66 with Jack Burton who scored 38, and then another fifty partnership with skipper John Stewart who contributed 28. Carrick moved along to 144 for 5 with 12 overs remaining when Richard Hood joined Fittis at the wicket, and the pair proceeded to add 101 runs, with Hood unbeaten on 53 at the close of the innings.
After 20 overs Carrick’s accurate bowlers had contained the home side to 65 for 4 and the game was over as a contest. They were eventually bowled out for 159 in the 35th over, with Simon Scott picking up 3 wickets, and Alastair Burton, Adam Fittis, and Tommie Humphries taking two apiece.
3rd XI and 4th XI both win by default
Carrickfergus Cricket Club 3rd XI defeated Millpark II via a walkover on Sunday, the same results was obtained by the 4th XI on Saturday as Larne II were also unable to field a team
