Cricketers fail to cope with Monaghan bowling

Facing Monaghan at The Park, Dungannon won the toss and Jeff Meeke opted to bat on a hot summer’s day with a little breeze.
Dungannon Cricket was in a much healthier state when this picture was taken twenty years ago, prior to a McGredy Cup semi-final they lost to VictoriaDungannon Cricket was in a much healthier state when this picture was taken twenty years ago, prior to a McGredy Cup semi-final they lost to Victoria
Dungannon Cricket was in a much healthier state when this picture was taken twenty years ago, prior to a McGredy Cup semi-final they lost to Victoria

The pitch was hard but damp after the light morning rain and this helped the bowlers. He opened the batting with Chris Adrain but both were tied down by accurate length tactic of the opening bowlers.

They were swinging both ways, the ball leaping above waist high from a length. One bowler bowled five maidens in a row and after ten overs the score was a meagre 19 runs.

Jeff and Chris tried to accelerate against the change bowlers, but soon lost Adrain was caught one-handed at gully by a one handed reflex catch which was head high.

This was characteristic of the Monaghan fielding throughout as they took catch after brilliant catch. They dived about the field catching anything that went near them, dropping nothing.

Dungannon’s cause was not helped, as usual, by the number of catches dropped. This has become a habit and allowed Monaghan to win in a canter. Chris was the most accurate of the bowlers only giving up 19 runs in his 8 overs.

Dungannon were completely outplayed by Monaghan who deserved to win, but the result was influenced by the fact that bowlers are allowed to throw, umpires apparently powerless to stop them.

Without wanting to appear bad losers, Dungannon players were very perturbed to witness a couple Monaghan bowlers chucking or throwing every ball instead of bowling.

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