Ballina Cricket Club makes historic return to action
The Ballina Cricket Club team at Kilconnell Oval last Sunday where they played their opening game in the Connacht Cricket Union League.
Last Sunday, April 28 was a historic day for Ballina Cricket Club, with the first competitive match for the club in over 100 years taking place at the Kilconnell Oval in Co. Galway. Recently re-formed, the club is affiliated to the Connacht Cricket Union, and is playing in Division 2 of CCU League.
Ballina has a rich heritage in cricket, having won the Connacht Cricket Union Challenge Cup in 1894 and 1896.
A thrilling game, played mostly in the sunshine, resulted in a loss to Shamrock CC of Galway on a score of 155 runs for six wickets.
Having won the toss, Ballina captain Chris O'Neill elected for Ballina to bat first. A total of 161 runs not out from 30 overs was a respectable return against some impressive bowling from Shamrock, with the standout a fine tally of 50 from Mumtaz Ahmed. After a stoppage for rain, which forced the umpires to reduce the overs and batting target due to the delay, it was Ballina’s turn to bowl.
For a first outing for this 11, it was a very competitive effort, with Damian Schwarz taking two wickets on top of a fine catch, and Marcus Jones, Chris O’Neill and Mumtaz Ahmed all claiming a wicket each, all in all a very positive return to competitive action.
