CRICKET REVIEW: Parkhill leads way for Carrick against Bangor in Challenge Cup

The visitors won the toss at Middle Road and batted first but they struggled throughout against some accurate Carrick bowling.

Only Andy Nixon in the middle order with a spirited 45 off 53 put up much resistance as the Co. Down side managed a modest 147 for 9 in their 50 overs.

Ashwin Shetty picked up three wickets for the hosts, while Anthony Martin and spinners Robert Smith and Ryan Eagleson took two each.

Michael Gilmour got the Carrick innings off to a flying start with a series of boundaries, with he and Iain Parkhill taking the score along to 70 off 12 overs. Gilmour was then dismissed lbw to Burns for 43, scored off 36 balls and containing 8 boundaries, and replaced at the wicket by Jamie Holmes.

That was to be the extent of Bangor’s success as Man of the Match Parkhill and Holmes knocked off the required runs in another 11 overs. With the winning hit, Parkhill completed a well- deserved 50 which contained seven boundaries and a six.

Bangor 147/9 (A Nixon 45, J Keenen 26, A Shetty 3-31, A Martin 2-20, R Smith 2-26, R Eagleson 2-31)

Carrickfergus 148/1 (23.3 overs; I Parkhill 51no, M Gilmour 43, J Holmes 25no)

Carrickfergus won by 9 wickets

On Friday evening Carrick got off to a winning start in the T20 Cup group, defeating Derriaghy by a 78-run margin in their first group match.

Carrick batted first and explosive innings from South African professional Pat Botha and Ryan Eagleson enabled them to post a a formidable 172 for 4 in their 20 overs. Botha finished unbeaten on 81 off 52 with five fours and six sixes. Eagleson’s strike rate was even more impressive with 49 off only 24 deliveries. His innings contained five boundaries and three maximums.

Derriaghy had no answer and when they lost key men Aphale and Lewis cheaply they were content to bat out the overs, finishing on 94 for 9. Michael Armstrong, Anthony Martin, and Stephen Grant each picked up two wickets for Carrick.