 U15 ARE ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS
Thursday 26 August 2010 THRILLING 2 WICKET WIN AT SANDYMOUNT (Match Report). See SCORECARD at Team Stats - under 15s
Cricketeurope report
Former Ireland International cricketer and Rugby International referee, Alan Lewis, presents the trophy to North Down captain, Peter Eakin
The 2010 under 15 ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS
Many of the players, parents and coaches who had come away from Laurelvale on Wednesday after a 3 run defeat to CIYMS in the final of the Colts' Cup , were at the boundary edge to see a thrilling nail biting finish to this game.
Having won all before them at this level in 2010, Peter Eakin's side travelled to Dublin with confidence, hoping to repeat the magnificent achievement of the under 13s in 2007.
YMCA batted first in the 40 over All-Ireland Final and got off to a sound start scoring 33 before Paddy Carser struck in the 2nd of his scheduled 8 overs. He brought a ball back from outside off stump to bowl Cole and herald the beginning of an amazing slump from the home side.
Four more wickets fell with only 6 runs added and Peter Davison joined Carser in the demolition. A caught and bowled from each, a Davison lbw and a run out left YM tottering on the brink of a humiliating total.
As is usually the case, a partnership developed between Kirk and Bailey and these precious 52 runs secured a total of 111 all out. Gavin Anderson had joined the caught and bowled squad and Carser took his second and with a Ryan Burgess wicket thrown in, YMCA struggled.
The wicket was partly responsible for the demise of the batsmen with the ball holding on a slow wicket where the bounce was unpredictable at times.
Nothing however should detract from a great bowling and fielding performance with Carser's 4 for 17 off his 8 overs a stand out effort.
Paddy Carser and Ryan Burgess opened the batting after tea and took the total to 17 before Burgess was bowled pulling to mid wicket. Only 10 runs were added before YM snapped up the wicket of the North Down captain, Peter Eakin, caught at mid off, lofting a skier. Wickets tumbled regularly with Peter Davison, Gavin Anderson and Curtis McCartney all falling to catches. In the midst of the carnage Paddy Carser had seen 60 on the scoreboard before he was out lbw for an intelligent and very well played 23. Gareth Wright applied the formula 'block it or biff it' and his match winning 40 included 7 boundaries, his classic straight drives a joy for the supporters, before he was brilliantly caught on the long on boundary.
15 runs were still required and the pressure was on as the pendulum swung in favour of the home side.
Craig Irvine was bowled without scoring and Dean Wylie joined Andrew McKibbin at the wicket with only Aaron McCaughey to come.
Visions of a Laurelvale repeat haunted the North Down camp, but nobody seemed to have accounted for the determination, ability and character of Andrew McKibbin. He had enabled Wright to build his innings, giving him as much of the strike as possible, kept out the bowling of the returned and capable YMCA opening bowlers and had the patience to score only two singles ofF his first 26 balls and not let it rattle him.
The rewards were great. He played a beautiful square cut for four, and guided his number 10 batsman Dean Wylie across the finishing line to the exhileration of the travelling North Down supporters. Both finished not out and in the context of the game McKibbin's 11 runs were worth a lot more than that.
Who would be a Man of the Match adjudicator!!
What a year for the under 15s: Graham Cup winners, NCU under 15 League Cup winners and Under 15 All Ireland Champions. You can't do better than that.
Some of the North Down supporters who travelled to Dublin
Gareth McKibbin can't take any more suspense
Andrew McKibbin and Dean Wylie saw the game won
|
