Date : 19 April 2008

Venue : Castle Grounds

30 Overs Match

Wicket : Grass

BRA won the toss elected to bat on a fairly soft grass wicket. Opening bowlers Dailly and Glover got off to a controlled start, conceding only 23 runs off the first 8 overs, with Ballyclare taking the first wicket in the 8 th over. The first three BRA batsmen only scored in total 38 between them. This is where the bulk of the runs came from, with the bottom eight players only managing 24 runs between them, at an average of three runs each. Ballyclare extras were the top score with 27. Fielding practice came into play for Ballyclare High School, with three direct hits taking two wickets, with the third dismissal being controversial. However two fairly simple catches, both off Smith, were dropped, so there is still something for the team to work on for future matches. Best was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets for 14 runs off six overs, backed up by Glover with 2 for 19 off five overs. A wicket each for Whitten and Smith wrapped up the B.R.A innings at 87 all out.

Ballyclare needed 88 runs to win off 30 overs, at an average of just over two runs an over which seamed a simple task for the Ballyclare team. Accurate bowling from Ulster Schools’ player Bunting meant runs were hard to find in the first few overs. The first wicket of Glover falling in the 4 th over: next was Dailly followed by Jennings. Captain Smith kept the runs ticking over with a mature innings of 31. There was good tempo at the other end from Blain, 14, and Stevenson, 12, which left Ben Scroggie to finish the game in style, only one run needed to win. Scroggie advanced down the wicket and hit a fine six over mid-wicket.

Ballyclare won the game in the 25 th over with three wickets to spare. This is the first time in the school’s history that the 1st XI has beaten BRA in three consecutive years which shows the progress made by cricket in Ballyclare High School.