Runs galore as Bready retain unbeaten record

High scores were very much the order of the day on Saturday as the group stages of the Long’s SuperValu league continued- no fewer than 5 centuries recorded and all of them in two games. Match-of-the-day once again lived up to it’s billing as just 9 runs separated previously unbeaten Bready and Ardmore as they racked up more than 570 runs between them at Magheramason.

A partnership of 171 between Irosh Samarasooriya and Jamie Magee saw both of these players reach their personal landmarks- Irosh hitting 13 fours and 2 sixes in his 106 while Jamie hit 11 fours in his 101. Steve Lazars continued his good run of form with a quick 35 not out in a total of 291-3 in 40 overs; the hosts total boosted by the addition of 6 penalty runs for Ardmore’s slow over rate.

The visitors remained undaunted by the chase however and Jared Wilson and Tyron Koen set about pulling it back. Koen hit 11 fours and a six in his 77 but Warriors man Wilson was proving difficult to shift and became the third player to reach three figures as he hit 8 fours and 8 sixes in an excellent 108 not out. Unfortunately the Bleachgreen side just couldn’t find  enough to get over the line, and despite Rachit Gaur’s 39, the reply closed on 282-7 with Davy Scanlon picking up 4 valuable wickets.

There were a couple of centuries at Burndennett too- both of them for Donemana as the visitors made it four wins from four group games so far. Andy McBrine made 101 for the Holm side although that wasn’t clear until after he was out- everyone missing a six hit from the Warriors captain before the scores were double-checked. McBrine’s knock came off just 69 deliveries and included 9 fours and 6 sixes.

Dean Mehaffey added an unbeaten 100 (11 fours and a six), bringing up his century off the penultimate ball of the innings as the senior cup holders posted a total of 260-3 from their 40 overs.

Burndennett were never really in the hunt in their reply, Corey Roulston with 31, Mark Doherty (30), Ross McCay (29), Marty Mehaffey 26 and Gary Neely 20 all chipping in for a respectable 177 all out. Jordan McGonigle finished with 3-19 while Willie McBrine, Levi Dougherty and Andy McBrine picket up two wickets each in a comfortable win.

Brigade got the better of Strabane in a low-scoring contest at Beechgrove where the visitors were bowled out for 66 chasing the home side’s 145. Rhys Logue accounted for half of the Red Caps’ total, but could find no willing partners as Andy Britton claimed 4-17 and Ross Allen and Iftikhar Hussain added two wickets apiece.

Allen had top scored with 31 not out for the hosts who were completely let off the hook in their innings. Brigade had been 85-6 at one point and benefitted from a total of 37 extras to get them to their total, however once there, they had little difficulty in defending it.

The first of a couple of very close finishes was at the Rectory where the home side edged out St Johnston-Tylor Moore’s unbeaten 41 helping the Rectory side to get over the line with 3 wickets to spare. Nauman Anwar, Glendermott’s overseas player announced his arrival with 47 at the top of the order while Bob Robinson made 40 and Jason Lynch 38, however they were still well short of the Saints’ 192 all out before Moore’s innings.

The Saints total was almost a carbon copy of last week- held together by a superb knock from Scott Macbeth. The talented teenager hit 11 fours and 3 sixes in his 81 and just like last week, his main support came from dad Ian who made 23 in a 54-run partnership. Todd Killen’s 5-30 was a major factor in restricting the Donegal side’s total and helping the Waterside outfit to the win.

Things were even closer at Ballymagorry where an unbeaten 52 from Jonny Robinson and 34 apiece from Jason Milligan and TJ Nicholl helped Fox Lodge to 216-6 from their 40 overs. Rehan Afridi, who had taken two wickets for the visitors then top scored with 47 in the reply. Stephen Barr made 42 and Mattie Barr 31, however the home side were just able to do enough to keep their noses in front.

Gareth Heywood picked up three wickets and Adam Walker two as the Bee Gees were restricted to 205-9, an 11-run win for the Foxes.

Scott Campbell’s 59 and an unbeaten 47 from Alan Whitcroft helped Coleraine to 224-8 at home to Killyclooney while Timmy Dougherty followed up last week’s 5-wicket haul with 4 more today for the visitors. ‘Clooney’s batting wasn’t really on the mark however- 30 from Alan Colhoun very much the best of it as three wickets for Campbell and two apiece for Stephen Hutchinson and Varun Chopra saw the Bannsiders win by 116 runs.

In the day’s final game, Eglinton travelled to Ballyspallen and came away with a 5-wicket win despite Curtis McElwee making 68 for the home side in a total of 139. Jamie Millar made 42 not out and Tommy Orr 37, while Stuart Kennedy’s 3-15 gave ‘Spallen some early hope.

Long’s SuperValu Saturday scoreboard 

At Burndennet, Burndennett lost to Donemana by 83 runs

Donemana 260-3 (40 overs; A McBrine 101, D Mehaffey 100*, G McClintock 37)

Burndennett 177 all out (38.1 overs; C Roulston 31, M Doherty 30, R McCay 29, M Mehaffey 26, G Neely 20, J McGonigle 3-19, W McBrine 2-27, A McBrine 2-30, L Dougherty 2-36)

At Beechgrove, Brigade beat Strabane by 79 runs

Brigade 145 all out (32.4 overs; R Allen 31*, R Barr 26, M McNulty 2-19, C Havern 2-27, A Gillespie 2-36)

Strabane 66 all out (22.5 overs; R Logue 32, A Britton 4-17, I Hussain 2-8, R Allen 2-18)

At Sandel Lodge, Coleraine beat Killyclooney by 116 runs

Coleraine 224-8 (40 overs; S Campbell 59, A Whitcroft 47*, T Dougherty 4-43, J Connor 2-26)

Killyclooney 108 all out (29.3 overs; A Colhoun 30, S Campbell 3-12, S Hutchinson 2-15, V Chopra 2-27)

At Ballymagorry, Fox Lodge beat Bonds Glen by 11 runs

Fox Lodge 216-6 (40 overs; J Robinson 52*, M Milligan 34, TJ Nicholl 34, A Logue 24R Afridi 2-21, R Curry 2-27)

Bonds Glen 205-9 (40 overs; R Afridi 46, S Barr 42, M Barr 31, D Curry 28, K Kincaid 21, G Heywood 3-36, A Walker 2-54)

At Ballyspallen, Ballyspallen lost to Eglinton by 5 wickets

Ballyspallen 139 all out (36.2 overs; C McElwee 68, Stephen Dunn 3-30, R Wylie 2-3, M Averill 2-27)

Eglinton 142-5 (37.5 overs; J Millar 42*, T Orr 37, Stuart Kennedy 3-15)

At Magheramason, Bready beat Ardmore by 9 runs

Bready 291-3 (40 overs; I Samarasooriya 106, J Magee 101, S Lazars 35*, D Rankin 23)

Ardmore 282-7 (40 overs; J Wilson 108*, T Koen 77, R Gaur 39, D Scanlon 4-48)

At the Rectory, Glendermott beat St Johnston by 3 wickets

St Johnston 192 all out (38.4 overs; S Macbeth 81, I Macbeth 23, D Lapsley 21, T Killen 5-34)

Glendermott 195-7 (31.5 overs; N Anwar 47, T Moore 41*, R Robinson 40, J Lynch 38, S Macbeth 2-17, D Lapsley 2-36)