 FIRST CRUSH INSTONIANS
Saturday 24 July 2010 SUTHERLAND AND SHIELDS IMPRESS AS THE BOWLERS TURN UP THE HEAT
North Down won the toss and batted on what looked a good enough track. But looks can be deceiving and from the outset there was plenty to encourage the bowlers.
Instonians captain and opening bowler Eugene Moleon certainly took advantage of the conditions and with the assistance of a couple of highly questionnable umpiring decisions finished with 3 for 23. Adjudged unfortunate, Neil Russell and Ryan Haire were back in the dug out with 28 on the board.
Andrew Sutherland showed that he can anchor when required with his 2 hour 25 minute stay at the wicket holding the early part of the innings together and scoring 66 off 129 balls. Under the conditions it was a fine knock ending with a run out after his 59 run stand with captain Peter Shields.
Shields stayed on and added another excellent 53 runs with Jonny Terrett whose 18 runs off 20 balls indicated a return to form after an absence of many weeks.
The 200 for 6 total was always going to be a demanding one and the task was made more difficult when Gavin McKenna bowled International McCann, took the wicket of the dangerous Moleon and helped clear up 'the tail' by bowling McCurry.
The main strike bowlers bowled well with Taimur Khan's 3 wickets showing what a force he is against the middle order.
The experienced Marty Moreland again picked up the 2 big wickets of White and J Shannon and Daniel Harding,s figures of 2 for 11 off 8 overs speak for themselves.
Eugene Moleon reached the stage where he threw caution to the wind and the victim was Kieran Donnelly who was severly punished for overpitching and paid the price, conceding 27 runs off his 2 overs.
This win makes it very difficult for the title holders to retain the trophy having now lost 4 matches, but it is a season where the competition is much more widespread than before and who knows how the race will finish.
North Down have lost fewer games than any other side and every match from now will be crucial.
A visit and win at Middle Road tomorrow (25th) will see the team go top.
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