Brigade and Newbuildings to contest NW T20 shoot-out
It was an action-packed afternoon of T20 cricket across the North West on Saturday afternoon with six semi-finals decided in the three cup competitions.
The Faughan Valley Cup will dictate who goes forward to represent the local Union in this year’s All-Ireland Cup and it is Brigade and Newbuildings who will meet in that decider later this month.
Those two came through their semi-finals in vastly different manner; Newbuildings coming back with a last gasp effort to win at Coleraine.
Jared Wilson’s men needed seven runs to win heading into the last over which Stephen Hutchinson defended superbly to take it down to three from one ball. Unfortunately for the bowler that final delivery was a full toss from which the batsmen ran two, with a run out on the third leading to a tie.
Skipper Wilson hit 14 for Newbuildings in the ‘super over’ before being dismissed off the final ball. Trent McKeegan was able to defend it however; keeping Scott Campbell and Ravi Karunaratne to just 9 in reply as the visitors edged into the final.
Earlier, Matthew Hutchinson made an unbeaten 43 (5 fours) and Scott Campbell 36 as the Bannsiders were restricted to 105-8 in their 20 overs- Johnny Thompson (2-25) the pick of the bowlers.
It was nearly enough though- Mark Hanna with 34 and skipper Wilson 20 giving the innings just enough impetus.
Matthew Hutchinson must be wondering how he ended up on the losing side of a low-scoring game; following up his runs with bowling figures of 4-6 from 3 overs.
The second semi-final was settled an awful lot more quickly as Brigade beat Bonds Glen by 9 wickets.
David Cooke made 48 at the top of the Bee Gees’ order with Raymond Curry and Jonny Haslett chipping in 20 apiece in a total of 108-7.
Ryan Barr was best with the ball for the Beechgrove side with 2-33 and his brother David helped the visitors comfortably chase it down.
Barr and Adam McDaid both made 53 not out in a 113-run stand that eased them into the decider, and another step closer to last year’s European League place.
In the Eric Cooke Cup, Bready and Burndennett will fight out the trophy after impressive wins over Donemana and Eglinton respectively.
Marcello Piedt hit 6 fours and 3 sixes in his 26-ball 51 while Marty Mehaffey added 4 sixes and a four in a quick 33 as ‘Dennett worked up an early head of steam.
Aidan Logue chipped in with 23 before Aaron McDermott (21*) and Andy Barr (15*) took the total to 167-6 with some late blows.
Andy Millar (3-26) was best with the ball for the villagers, but they never really kept up with the necessary rate in reply.
Mike Erlank looked good for his 54 (5 fours, 2 sixes), but the only meaningful support came from Jack Martin who hit 3 sixes in his 22.
Conan Pollock was the star with the ball for the winners, picking up 5-11 from the 11 balls he bowled as Eglinton threw everything at it late on.
Bready posted a bloodless 10-wicket home win over Donemana as they too moved on to Finals Day.
Davy Rankin hit 5 fours and 5 sixes in his 79 not out while Scott Macbeth batted superbly to add 9 fours and a six in his 77*, as Bready chased down 157 with ease.
William McClintock made 49 (4 sixes, 3 fours) with Joe Robinson and Levi Dougherty both scoring 28 in the Holm’s side’s total. Gregory McFaul (2-32) was the most successful of Bready’s bowlers in a really eye-catching win.
And the Sperrin Springs final will see Ardmore play Glendermott after both won their respective semi-finals in good style.
The Bleachgreen side restricted Fox Lodge to just 98-4 with Craig Doherty making 39* of those.
Harry Zimmerman claimed 2-22 but in truth they all bowled well as the Foxies struggled to get away.
Ardmore were in a spot of bother early on in their reply as Jonny Robison, Adam Walker, Aaron Heywood and Jamie McIntyre all got on the scoresheet, before Tyron Koen took control.
The all-rounder blasted 6 sixes and 2 fours in an unbeaten 54 that sent his side into the decider.
And there they will meet Glendermott who won a high-scoring game up at the Park.
Aaron Gillespie has had a phenomenal T20 campaign and the Strabane skipper was again among the runs as he smashed 7 sixes and 2 fours in his 72.
Opening partner ‘Shami’ Ahmed was even more emphatic here- his 88 including 7 sixes and 4 fours as these two posted a 164-run stand for the first wicket.
Strabane’s total of 181-3 looked very competitive with skipper Ben Mills (3-28) faring best of the visitors’ bowlers.
The Rectory side weren’t to be outdone however and skipper Mills was again to the fore.
His unbeaten 51 came off just 20 balls (6 sixes and a four), with support coming from Nathan McGuire (42), Jamal Anwar (29) and Trevor McDermott and Alan Johnson who both scored 21.
Rhys Logue was excellent for the Red Caps with figures of 4-16, but it was to be Glendermott’s day.
The North West Cricket Union would like to thank the Best Western White Horse Hotel for their continued support.
