Brigade seal comfortable cup final success

Brigade have won the North West senior cup for the third time in four years after a comfortable 6-wicket success over Eglinton in a game forced into a third day by the weekend’s heavy rain. The sides were fairly well matched over the course of the first innings, however the Beechgrove side’s 48-run lead proved to be crucial as the villagers fell on their own sword in the second innings as they tried to force the pace.

The home side finished a weather-shortened Day 2 with a lead of 18 runs but with three wickets down, and it was imperative that they built on that early on Sunday if they were to stay in the game. It wasn’t to be however as set overnight batsman Tommy Orr was out for 40 at the start of play and the home side never recovered.

Ryan Macbeth and Iftikhar Hussain cut through the rest of the order- Macbeth returning Man-of-the-Match winning figures of 4-35 and Hussain bowling superbly to claim 3-16 from his 10 overs.

In total, the villagers second innings closed on 124 all out meaning a target of just 78 left for Brigade to claim the cup. The home side battled hard once again however they never had enough runs to defend.

Hussain made an unbeaten 32 to ensure victory despite losing four wickets en route, as Andy Britton once again got his hands on the famous old trophy.