Cleesthrope, Lincolnshire 30.6.08

Day One

Ulster Schools' 249 off 54 overs
Stuart Thompson 97, Mark Nixon 33, Stephen Leckey 27, Andrew Nixon 26, K Bansal 8-55

Lincolnshire County U17s 275 for 2 off 55 overs
K Bansal 115, M Brown 99, T Monson 35, Johnny Campbell 2-34.

After an attacking start Ulster Schools' were 139 for 2 off 27 overs but various batsmen got started but did not go and only Limavady's Stuart Thompson (97) made a significant contribution on what was a green wicket giving much help to the bowlers.

The wheels really fell off when Ulster Schools' lost their last 4 wickets for just 10 runs and did not use their allocated 60 overs.

On the bowling and fielding front lessons the Ulster Schools' did not perform well enough at this level and catches were dropped, bowlers bowled two sides of the wicket and field placings were nieve and not protective of the boundaries. The Ulster Schools' players and captain Andrew McCulla will have their work cut out in Day 2 tomorrow starting at 10.30am.

Day 2
Ulster Schools' U19s 185 all out
M Nixon 34, S Leckey 31, M Heaney 30, A McCulla 22, A Nixon 22; O Lindley 4-35, D Cliffe 3-42.
Lincolnshire U17s 159 for 9
D Cliffe 61, M Brown 32 no; J Campbell 4-33

A much improved performance in Day 2 in the field saw Ulster Schools' take this game to the final over were Lincolnshire U17s needed 1 run for victory. Prior to taking the field the Ulster Schools' batting had 5 of their top 7 bats all get starts but none of them displayed the endurance and experience to occupy the crease. However the improvement was with the ball and Johnny Campbell (Grosvenor Gr) bowled with pace and accuracy to claim his four wickets. The other Ulster Schools' bowlers supported admirably and with tighter field placings, wickets fell at opportune times. Sound ground fielding pressurised the Lincolnshire's batsmen which led to 3 run outs for Ulster Schools', the pick being James McKinney's direct hit from mid wicket.

The much improved fielding performance will be encouraging to take to Derbyshire where the next day opponents are South Yorkshire Police.