Ards & ’Dee stumped by league leaders Bangor
ARDS & Donaghadee were unable to make it back-to-back victories in NCU Section 2 as table toppers and neighbours Bangor proved to be too strong at Northfield on Saturday.
The hosts, who recorded an impressive 31-run win over third placed Cooke Collegians in their previous outing, won the toss and chose to bat in search of a sufficient total. After Phil McNamara was dismissed in the second over, Andrew Savage and captain Michael Martin struck up a promising partnership and navigated the score to 104-4 before Martin was bowled by Bangor’s George Prince and Savage fell victim to Sam McMillan moments later.
This brought two new batsmen to the crease and Bangor seized their moment with wickets shared around, limiting the home side to 137 all out in the 36th over.
The visitors showed their batting intent early on, clearly wanting to get ahead of the rate ahead of any intervention from the rain with darkening skies closing in. Openers McMillan and Mark Hutchinson brought up their 100 partnership at the 15-over mark, which meant should the rest of the match be rained off then Bangor would be awarded the win via the DLS method.
Hutchinson went on to hit a flurry of boundaries with McMillan, not to be outdone, hitting three sixes consecutively to cap off a fine batting performance from the away side.
Ards & Donaghadee are next in action when they travel to Victoria on Saturday, before playing hosts to Dundrum the following day.
Ards & Donaghadee 137 (35.1 overs, M Martin 45, A Savage 30, R Van Harte 2-7, C Pyper 2-17, G Prince 3-35)
Bangor 139-0 (18.3 overs, S McMillan 69*, M Hutchinson 64*)
Bangor beat Ards & Donaghadee by 10 wickets
