Big Guns start to flex T2O muscle
Week 4 of the White Horse Hotel T20 Cup saw few surprises as the fancied teams have all now started to take a hold of their respective groups.
Brigade had already wrapped up top spot in their section even before beating Killyclooney for the third time this season as the infrequent visitors to the Tyrone venture posted a dominant 9-wicket win. Derek Lynch hit 4 sixes and 4 fours in his 51 as ‘Clooney batted first with Darren Moan chipping in with 26.
Iftikhar Hussain claimed 3-7 and Ross Allen 3-12 as Moan’s men struggled to cope with the quality of the Beechgrove bowlers- the normally free-scoring hosts restricted to 115-8 from their 20 overs.
Kyle Magee, who came up through the youth structure at Killyclooney, hit 7 fours and 6 sixes as he shared in a century opening stand with David Barr (42 not out) in Brigade’s reply. The group leaders needed little more than half the available overs to seal a comprehensive victory.
A half century from Dean Mehaffey (above) added to 47 from William McClintock and a quick 32 not out from Levi Dougherty saw Donemana recover from a shaky start to beat St Johnston.
This was the Saints’ first game of the season after they were given the nod by Foyle College to use the new grounds on the Limavady Road on a temporary basis. Michael Rankin hit 5 fours and 2 sixes on his way to 59 and Jack Macbeth made 27 in a very respectable 139-7 from the Donegal team.
Dwayne McGerrigle’s three wickets helped keep the score down before Donemana slumped to 15-2 at the start of their reply. Mehaffey and McClintock, who was out to a snorter of a one-handed jumping catch by Scott Macbeth, turned it around however, while Dougherty’s rapid 32 that included 3 sixes and fours eased the Holm side over the line.
Bready are on course for top spot in their group as they too had 9 wickets to spare over Glendermott at Magheramason. North West Warriors batsman Nathan McGuire top scored with 34 for the Rectory boys as they made 106-8 while Kat Bhavsar was best with the ball for the home side with 3-17.
David Rankin (52*) and Andy Austin (19) gave Bready the perfect platform in their chase, while Irosh Samarasooriya added an unbeaten 29 that saw their side claim maximum bonus points to pull clear at the top of the table.
Coleraine avenged their opening day defeat at Bonds Glen to become the third team of the day to win by 9 wickets. Stephen Hutchinson claimed outstanding figures of 4-4 and Alan Whitcroft added 3-9 as the Bee Gees were dismissed for 66. That total was boosted by a last wicket partnership of 27 after a pretty dismal start, but it was still to be nowhere near enough.
Scott Campbell made 38 not out and shared in a 64-run opening stand with Paddy Carson (16) as the Bannsiders showed something like their real form to win easily.
Ardmore’s overseas man Tyron Koen hit 5 sixes and an four as he made 56 in the first game of the season at the Bleachgreen. The South African looked in good touch although the home side didn’t take full advantage as they were bowled out for 117.
Jacob Logan-Wilson returned superb figures of 5-12 while there two wickets apiece for Josh Wilson and Stephen Kennedy as ‘Spallen’s young side showed some form in the field. The Roe Valley side were soon in trouble themselves however before a sixth wicket stand between Damith Perera (45*) and James Thompson (21) brought them back into it.
They just couldn’t keep pace with the required rate however and two wickets apiece for Rachit Gaur and Conor Brolly was enough to secure a cosy win for Ardmore.
Newbuildings kept their winning run going as they edged past Burndennett in a game that went down to the last over. Marty Mehaffey (34) and Mark Doherty (26) shared a 41-run stand that helped the home side to what looked to be a modest 106-8 in their 20 overs.
Ryan Hunter with an unbeaten 40 and Mark Hanna with 30 put Newbuildings in control in their reply, however a couple of wickets each for Conan Pollock and Gary Neely kept the hosts in with a shout right until the end.
Fox Lodge caused the only upset of the day as they accounted for a very out of sorts Eglinton at Ballymagorry. TJ Nicholl made 26 and Jonny Robinson 20 in a seemingly modest total of 107-5.
The villagers really struggled in reply however and could muster just 64-9 in their 20 overs. Craig Averill top scored with 22 while Aaron Heywood, Adam Walker and Jamie McIntyre helped themselves to two wickets apiece as the Foxies claimed full points.
WHITE HORSE HOTEL T20 CUP RESULTS
At Ballymagorry, Fox Lodge (25pts) beat Eglinton (0pts) by 43 runs
Fox Lodge 107-5 (20 overs; TJ Nicholl 26, J Robinson 20)
Eglinton 64-9 (20 overs; C Averill 22; A Heywood 2-8, A Walker 2-8, J McIntyre 2-19)
At Sandel Lodge, Coleraine (25pts) beat Bonds Glen (0pts) by 9 wickets
Bonds Glen 66 all out (20 overs; S Hutchinson 4-4, A Whitcroft 3-9)
Coleraine 67-1 (10 overs; S Campbell 38*)
At Magheramason, Bready (25pts) beat Glendermott (0pts) by 9 wickets
Glendermott 106-8 (20 overs; N McGuire 34; K Bhavsar 3-17)
Bready 110-1 (16.2 overs; D Rankin 52*, Irosh Samarasooriya 29*)
At Burndennett, Newbuildings (23pts) beat Burndennett (2pts) by 5 wickets
Burndennett 106-8 (20 overs; M Mehaffey 34, M Doherty 26; J Thompson 2-27)
Newbuildings 109-5 (19.1 overs; R Hunter 40*, M Hanna 30; C Pollock 2-14, G Neely 2-23)
At Foyle College, Donemana (24pts) beat St Johnston (1pt) by 7 wickets
St Johnston 139-7 (20 overs; M Rankin 59*, J Macbeth 27; D McGerrigle 3-24)
Donemana 140-3 (18.3 overs; D Mehaffey 50*, W McClintock 47, L Dougherty 32no)
At The Bleachgreen, Ardmore (24 pts) beat Ballyspallen (1pts) by 25 runs
Ardmore 117 all out (19.5 overs; T Koen 56; J Logan-Wilson 5-12, Ste. Kennedy 2-18, J Wilson 2-19)
Ballyspallen 92-7 (20 overs; Damith Perera 45*, J Thompson 21; C Brolly 2-3, Rachit Gaur 2-19)
At Killyclooney, Brigade (25pts) beat Killyclooney (0pts) by 9 wickets
Killyclooney 115-8 (20 overs; D Lynch 51, D Moan 26; I Hussain 3-7, R Allen 3-12)
Brigade 116-1 (10.3 overs; K Magee 74, D Barr 42*)
