Ben’s the boy for Millpark in victory over title rivals

At an overcast Banford Green with rain in the air and Duckworth Lewis a possibility, opposing skipper McCluskey had no hestitaion in inserting Millpark.

Millpark made a steady if slow start but at 53-1 after 18 were well placed to accelerate in the second half of the innings.

In typical Millpark fashion, the wheels came off spectacularly with the loss of five wickets for only 27 runs as Millpark slumped to 80-6. Batsmen five, six and seven all failed to trouble the scorers.

Thankfully for the hosts, as the carnage was taking place at the other end, Ben Talbot remained calm and continued to play his shots.

While the tail added few runs, they batted sensibly giving Talbot the strike.

Despite the mid innings wobble, Millpark finished on a respectable but slightly under-par 150-9 with Talbot contributing a beautifully crafted 74 not out.

With the pitch a little sticky, skipper Paul McCart shuffled his bowlers, with his normal first change men Davy Glover and Stevie McCart taking the new ball.

It was to prove an inspired move, as the Donaghadee batsmen struggled with the slow pace and accuracy of the veteran bowlers.

Both men bowled their full quota of eight overs right through, leaving Donagahdee in trouble at 56-6. Glover took 4-28 and McCart 2-28.

It was left to Stu McCart and Richard McCann to mop up the tail to leave Millpark victorious by 54 runs.