Emerging Knights too strong for young Warriors

The Emerging Warriors came off second best against a very strong Emerging Knights outfit at Ardmore on Thursday afternoon in the first of this year’s 45-over “Future Series” games.

Batting first, the visitors racked up 249-9 with Cade Carmichael top scoring with 55. Morgan Topping added 45 and CJ Van der Walt 41 while 39 from Oliver Metcalfe and John Matchett’s 21 piled the pressure on the hosts.

Gregory McFaul (3-48) was the best of the Warriors’ bowling while Graham Kennedy and Ryan Macbeth claimed two wickets each.

The reply started poorly and after early wickets for Tom Mayes (3-36) and Matthew Humphreys the outcome was rarely in doubt. Cian Robertson claimed impressive figures of 2-26 while a spirited unbeaten 51 from Varun Chopra helped the Warriors to close the gap. The Coleraine man’s knock included 5 fours and a six but while the last two wickets added 58 runs, the Knights still had 53 more in hand.