Ervine produces spectacular display as Lisburn earn win

Lisburn’s run of defeats this season came to a spectacular end at Pollock Park last Saturday.
Lisburn Cricket Club US1413-406PM Pic by Paul MurphyLisburn Cricket Club US1413-406PM Pic by Paul Murphy
Lisburn Cricket Club US1413-406PM Pic by Paul Murphy

Their 110 run victory was completed in dramatic fashion with Craig Ervine being by far and away the man of the match. He scored a magnificent 142 and followed it up with 5 wickets for 34 runs so producing the best all round performance for Lisburn for many seasons.

The Lisburn innings score of 333 for 4 was also the highest score ever witnessed at Pollock Park and having set their opponents a massive chase they dismissed Lurgan for 223 in 48 overs to claim their first league points.

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If Craig Ervine’s century was vital, the winning of the toss was also crucial and Davey Simpson had no hesitation in batting first on a hard and true wicket in blinding sunshine.

Unfortunately, Lisburn lost Adam Berry off the second ball of the innings but quickly progress was made as opener Robert Rankin and Craig Ervine got to work on the Lurgan attack. They batted for almost 35 overs together, playing some fine shots and it was good to see the Lisburn batsmen taking full control of the game.

Rankin and Ervine added 166 in the second wicket partnership before Rankin was caught by the Lurgan skipper Stephen Johnston off Holmes for an excellent 63 which included six boundaries and a six in just 95 deliveries.

At the other end, Craig Ervine was just getting into full stride and as he was joined by Nathan Waller the over, he began to thrash the Lurgan bowling to all parts of the ground. The 3 in the 35 added a 40 in only 5 overs and when Waller was yet again caught in the deep he had scored 34 off just 20 balls.

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Ervine went to his century off just 126 balls striking the ball with enormous effect and hitting two massive sixes; the first onto the roof of the Lurgan pavilion and the second which clearing the building and ending up in the car park; a remarkable stroke.

His marvellous innings came to an end in the 47 boundaries and 4 sixes in just 143 balls faced at the crease. The sporting maxim, ‘form is temporary. class is permanent’ certainly applied to Craig on this occasion and his innings did wonders for the Lisburn morale. He had added a further 92 in 8 overs with Darryl Brown who was also in prime form.

The run feast was far from over as Darryl Brown took over the scoring mantle taking the Lurgan bowling by the throat and with some innovative shots pushed the Lisburn score beyond the reach of the home side. He went to his half century in only 28 balls and finished up with 60 not out with 9 fours scored in all parts of the ground.

The Lisburn innings eventually ended with the 50th over completed, the first time this season and a final tally of 333 for 4 and three fine contributions in the bank.

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Lurgan must have known from the outset that bettering the Lisburn score was probably out of the question but their openers set about the task with some success. They took advantage of some far from penetrative Lisburn bowling to score 60 off the first 10 overs of their innings with Lisburn striving for the break through and it came with the dismissal of the Lurgan professional Godbole, but only after he had scored a brisk 30 runs.

The second wicket added 28 before the second prize wicket was claimed. The Lurgan innings was eventually over with 223 on the score board; 110 short of the massive Lisburn target.

They now have break this Saturday having exited the Challenge Cup and look forward to their next league clash against Waringstown at The Lawn after a large boost to their confidence at Pollock Park.

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