Rain on top in Round 2 of group fixtures
Coleraine had the weekend off as the second round of fixtures were played in the Longs Supervalu T20 competition, however the Bannsiders were left sitting pretty after the match between Ballyspallen and Eglinton was one of four affected by rain on Saturday afternoon.
With a senior cup semi-final berth up for grabs for the group winners, the Sandel Lodge side are already now red-hot favourites to progress having won both their games so far and their other rivals toiling.
Ardmore’s match at home to Killyclooney and the all-Championship contest between Fox Lodge and Burndennett also fell victim to the weather, while the big game of the day at Newbuildings between them and Brigade came agonisingly close to a conclusion.
The visitors looked well on top when they had reduced their hosts to 53-5 half way through the first innings before Mark Hanna’s 35 allowed Gareth McKeegan’s men to post 107-8 from their 20 overs. Ryan Macbeth was best with the ball for the reigning champions for the second week running as he claimed 2-12 while Iftikhar Hussain (2-17) and skipper Andy Britton (2-23) were also on the mark. Brigade lost two quick wickets as their reply got bogged down early on and when the rain came they were 8 for 2 in the 3rd over. The teams never made it back on after that and just 15 balls short of a DLS result, the match had to be abandoned. There are no replays in this format of course and so no points could be awarded to anyone.
Glendermott took the opportunity to put some pressure on in that group as they won another rain-affected game, this time at St Johnston. Steve Moore made 34 and Ben Mills 28 as the Rectory men posted 125-7 in their allotted time. Nathan Cole (2-7) and David Anthony (2-29) fared best of the Donegal side’s effort with the ball. Unlike at Newbuildings, more than the required 5 overs had been bowled in the second innings when the rain arrived. Jack Macbeth was unbeaten on 25 as the Saints reached 37-1 after 8, but it wasn’t enough. The official calculation was 41, leaving the home side 4 runs short as Glendermott claimed a narrow verdict.
Bready posted their first win of the season over an understrength Strabane at Magheramason in yet another match where the elements played a part. The Red Caps could only manage 74-8 in their 20 overs as Dean McCloskey (4-12) and Brooke Crumley (2-16) helped keep their side on top. Only 6 overs had been bowled in the reply before the heaven’s opened again, but that was just enough. Bready’s respective target to win at 6 overs was 21-2 and having already reached 33, they claimed a 12-run verdict.
There was no need for calculators in the day’s other game as Donemana stayed on track for the senior cup with a thumping 124-run success. Gary and William McClintock were the stars for the Holm side as they posted 212-7; Gary hitting 11 sixes and 2 fours while skipper William added 55 in a 103-run partnership between the pair. Ryan Barr (3-28) and Stephen Barr (2-29) were best with the ball, however the Bee Gees were a long way off in their response. Lee Britton (26) and Kyle Moore (24) were best of the resistance as the hosts were bowled out for 93 with Sam Huey (4-8) and Gary McClintock again (4-10) doing the damage.
A big win for Donemana on a day when rain tried its best to have a say and teams will be hoping for better luck next Saturday as the group phase reaches half way.
