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Limavady get off the mark at last
Barry Chambers, 9 May 2001 Normal service was resumed as Limavady claimed their first league win of the season over Strabane. Their hero was Decker Curry who finally showed the form we all know he is capable of. On Tuesday night batting first on a beautiful sunny evening they got off to a poor start when John Gillespie was caught behind with only 4 on the board. They lost fellow opener Terence Patton Junior when he fell lbw to veteran bowler John Mc Kay. Irish internationals Peter and Mark Gillespie (right)then set about building the innings with some patient strokeplay. They gradually upped the tempo and had added 84 for the 3rd wicket when Peter was finally dismissed 3 runs short of his half century by professional Iftikhar Hussain. His innings contained 3 fours and 1 six. Brother Mark continued his good form from Saturday and he completed another half century eventually making 65 before he too was dismissed by Hussain. His knock consisted of 5 fours and 2 sixes. With the overs running out Strabane lost a flurry of quick wickets with Hussain benefitting ending up with figures of 4-30. Richard Mc Daid with 2-36 was the best of the other bowlers. When play resumed on Wednesday night openers Decker Curry and Ian Smith made a patient start content to move the scoreboard along at three an over. Terence Patton Senior nearly claimed the prize wicket of Curry when an edge was dropped by John Gillespie keeping wickets. The first wicket fell at 26 when John Gillespie stumped Smith off the bowling of Martin Parke for 6. With no addition to the score Professional Iftikhar Hussain was run out when he was sent back by Curry and was left stranded. Decker then set about atoning for his error and promptly dispatched the next ball from Pavan Kumar out of the ground. He was joined by Mark Mc Daid and this pair added 80 for the 3rd wicket in just 11 overs. Mark scored an excellent 39 which included 7 fours and came in 51 balls, before he holed out on the square leg boundary off the bowling of Gary Wallace. Decker and Richard Mc Daid added an unbeaten 50 off 7 overs to coast to victory. Decker who had been content to play second fiddle to Mark Mc daid upped the tempo reaching his 50 off 57 balls and then adding another 31 off 15 to finish unbeaten on 81. This included 4 sixes 7 fours and 1 five off 72 balls. This win lifts Limavady off the foot of the table and will give them a boost ahead of Sunday's trip to Donemana.
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