Armagh V Drumaness

Armagh had another terrific victory on Sunday when the visitors from Drumaness were put to the sword by the Armagh bowling attack. Seamus Crowe took the place of Reg Stinson for the second fixture of the weekend and no-one was surprised to see the away side choose to bat after winning the toss. As it turned out the opening partnership of 17 was the highest partnership of the innings before Armagh ran riot. N Walsh had played some risky shots off Kulkarni and his luck ran out when he feathered an edge through to McCarter. Mark Stinson was again taking the Sunday new ball and made his first breakthrough when Gartland missed a straight ball and was bowled. Deegan lobbed the same bowler straight to Steenson at cover who made no mistake. The fourth wicket fell the very next ball when a beautiful delivery from Stinson was edged through for Gareth McCarter to take a stunning diving catch. Stinson was on a hat-trick and his ball beat the bat and hit the pad but a desperate lbw appeal was somehow declined by the umpire. Armagh didn’t let this setback hinder their progress with Kulkarni next to succeed with a catch off his own bowling to remove Rice. Oldroyd skewed a catch to Michael Villiers to give Stinson his fourth wicket before Harry Doyle removed Gelston to give McCarter his third catch. Stinson then claimed his first “five-for” in senior cricket when Node looped a catch to Seamus Crowe at slip. Mark Stinson’s final figures were ten overs, five wickets for twelve runs in a terrific controlled display of swing bowling. David Bullick picked up the final two wickets of the innings, one with a well judged catch from Harry Doyle and the last man being clean bowled to leave Drumaness all out for a paltry 53.

Another low target would prove to be a small obstacle to the Armagh opening pair of Colin Russell and Michael Villiers with the latter taking charge with a mighty “six” straight down the ground. Plenty of singles were available as Drumaness tried in vain to protect their boundaries. Russell looked particularly comfortable and struck six “fours” and one “six” as Armagh cantered to the second ten wicket success of the weekend.

Naturally Armagh captain CP Kulkarni was delighted with his sides progress over the weekend as both opponents were dismissed for less than a hundred runs and no wickets had been lost in reply. “I don’t imagine an Armagh side has ever had two wins like this in a weekend so credit goes to the boys. Everyone is bowling well and they are being supported by great fielding so confidence should be high. Mark Stinson can be very content with his effort today. He was frustrated not to get a bowl yesterday but should understand his important role in our team. His five wicket success today is well deserved.

NCU Section 3 2009

Armagh v Drumaness

21 June 2009

The Mall

NCU Section 3

Result: Armagh win by 10 wickets

Points:  Armagh 4

Toss:    Drumaness

Umpires: R McNally, C Johnston

Scorers: S Wilson,

DRUMANESS

N Walsh        c McCarter + b Kulkarni *   12  

C Deegan          c Steenson b M Stinson    5  

M Gartland                   b M Stinson    0  

D Oldroyd         c Villiers b M Stinson    4  

A Mills         c McCarter + b M Stinson    0                                         

K Rice                    c&b Kulkarni *    1                                         

M Rodgers            c H Doyle b Bullick   13                                         

D Gelston         c McCarter + b H Doyle    0                                         

R Node               c Crowe b M Stinson    2                                         

M Walsh                        b Bullick    1                                         

A Walsh                          not out    0                                         

  Extras      (b 0, lb 4, nb 5, w 5, p )   14

  Total            (all out, 22.0 overs)   53

C Kulkarni *          8    1    24    2

M Stinson            10    5    12    5

H Doyle               3    0    11    1

D Bullick             1    0     2    2

ARMAGH

C Russell                        not out   36  

M Villiers                       not out   18  

M Steenson                                     

P Doyle                                        

C Kulkarni *                                                                          

D Bullick                                                                             

S Crowe                                                                               

H Doyle                                                                               

S Lester                                                                              

G McCarter +                                                                          

M Stinson                                                                             

  Extras         (b , lb , nb , w 3, p )    3

  Total              (0 wkts, 8.0 overs)   57

A Mills               2    1     5    0

D Oldroyd             2    0    28    0

M Gartland            2    0    12    0

N Walsh               2    0    12    0

After two big wins last weekend making Armagh joint second in the table on 16 points, they face another huge weekend of action ahead with a tough trip to league leaders Larne at Sandy Bay before Sunday brings an opportunity for revenge against Templepatrick on the Mall. Armagh captain CP Kulkarni admitted that these two games were a huge test of his teams’ chances for the league season. “Cregagh and Drumaness were good chances for the bowlers to get their wickets and we did that well, but this weekend will be a much sterner test for us. Sunday’s game on the Mall begins at 1pm.