Firsts secure promotion at Cregagh
David Marshall (31) and Colin Martin (90) reflect on a match winning partnership hitting six 6's between them
On Saturday Donaghcloney made the trip to Belfast to take on Cregagh, another struggling team, knowing that a win would secure promotion for the village side. Skipper Keith Martin won the toss and elected to take first use on what he described ‘a dream of a track’.
The skipper himself opened the batting along with Stephen Hanna, and the pair although they found it a struggle to score freely occupied the crease, and added 30 for the first wicket before Keith departed for 15.
Hanna was joined by briefly by Neil Carson who departed for 5, and then was joined by the inform Colin Martin. The pair started to accumulate runs more freely especially Colin who seemed to be finding the sweet spot from early on.
The pair took the score past the 70 mark before Hanna fell for a patient 24. Allen Martin then joined his brother at the crease and the brothers showed a good understanding as they run hard and pressurised the Cregagh fielders at every opportunity. Although Allen departed for only 6 the pair added 50 for the fourth wicket as Colin dominated the stand and were assisted by extras.
David Marshall was next in to support Colin and he was not to be outshone in a partnership yielding 80 runs. Marshall declared his intent with two huge sixes as the runs flowed freely during the partnership.
Marshall was eventually dismissed for a hard hitting 31 with the score on 200. Matthew Lyttle entered the fray as Donaghcloney tried to accelerate the run rate in the last 5 overs. Colin was doing exactly that but was harshly adjudged LBW for an imperious 90, as he advanced down the wicket in the 48th over.
Peter Moates and Gary Knox departed quickly leaving Lyttle to see the innings through with the help of Jonny Stevenson. The pair brought the tally to 240 with Lyttle undefeated with a quick fire 20. It must also be noted that the visitors gave away over 30 runs in extras.
Donaghcloney took to the field in buoyant spirit while Cregagh were somewhat dejected after a long spell in the field. The opening attack of Stevenson and Marshall sought to take advantage of the home team’s dejection.
Stevenson was the chief destroyer as he removed the first 3 wickets with a superb display of quick bowling, in an excellent spell of 7 overs, 3 wickets for 18 runs. Marshall bowled tightly to apply pressure and picked up 1 wicket himself. This along with a run out left Cregagh teetering on 50 for 5.
Knox replaced Marshall and saw a dropped catch of his first ball, but eventually claimed the 6th wicket a short time later with the score on 70. Hanna then picked up his first wicket, leaving it only a matter of time before Donaghcloney would ensure victory.
It was left to Colin Martin to wrap up proceedings as he claimed the last 2 wickets in is only over to finish a superb individual performance of 90 runs with the bat and two wickets for no runs with the ball.
Skipper Keith was elated with the weeks work ‘you could see how much this week meant to everyone, usually a mid week game is hard to field a team but we travelled with a strong line up showing the desire of the lads to earn promotion’. He continued ‘we have been quite ruthless in these two victories but the job is not finished, we have promotion but we want to go up as champions so we need to win our two remaining fixtures at home to Drumaness on Saturday with an away trip to Templepatrick the following week’. He finished ‘I must congratulate the lads up to this point but we must remain focused to see out the remainder of the season’
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