Hall and Eaglestone ensure an emphatic win for Waringstown

James Hall continued his remarkable start to the season with a wonderful century in Saturday’s emphatic league win over Civil Service North at The Lawn.
Waringstown's James Hall who is in top form with the bat.Waringstown's James Hall who is in top form with the bat.
Waringstown's James Hall who is in top form with the bat.

The Waringstown opening batsman, fresh from his double-hundred against Academy two weeks’ previously, made 101 from 120 balls to set up a 151-run victory against last season’s Challenge Cup winners.

Hall struck 13 fours and a six, sharing a century partnership with Kyle McCallan which set up an imposing Waringstown total of 253 for eight.

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The innings got off to a fine start as Hall and James McCollum (18) came through a searching early spell from Allen Coulter to add 70 for the first wicket.

The CSNI spinners, particularly Ben Adair, then reduced the scoring rate during an effective spell between the 20th and 30th overs when Waringstown struggled to reach three runs per over.

But that all changed as Hall and McCallan pressed the accelerator. The latter started to unleash some innovative strokes, the third of three reverse sweep boundaries bringing up his 50.

He was eventually out for 55, including five fours, and that was a signal for a mini-slump with Hall following two overs later.

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The innings received some important late impetus as Ruhan Pretorious, the South African professional, plundered 29 from just 11 balls, including two fours and two sixes.

With rain forecast for shortly after tea time Duckworth-Lewis was a factor with CSNI hoping to keep wickets intact when the game became ‘live’ at 20 overs.

But their hopes took a dramatic blow as Phil Eaglestone struck three times in the space of five balls. From 31 without loss CSNI were soon 37 for five as Gary Kidd also got in on the act with three for 16.

The rain eventually came with the visitors on 76 for eight, with Waringstown a massive 151 runs ahead on Duckworth-Lewis.

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Waringstown finally got their NCU Premier League season up and running with an eight-wicket victory over Carrickfergus last Thursday night.

Captain Lee Nelson and Greg Thompson both struck half centuries in an undefeated stand of 124. In what was both clubs’ belated first league match of the season, the home side posted 118 for six off 20 overs batting first.

There was a dramatic start to the Waringstown reply as Carrick’s Indian professional Indrajeet Kamtekar struck twice in the space of three balls in the very first over.

James McCollum departed to the first ball of the innings and two balls later Ruhan Pretorious, the Waringstown professional, was bowled.

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At a ground where Carrick defended 113 with relative ease against Instonians last Friday night, the villagers would have been nervous, especially with James Hall unavailable.

But there were few anxious moments as Nelson made an unbeaten 56 from 50 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Thompson’s 57 took just 49 balls and included four fours and two sixes.

Carrickfergus 118-6 (I Kamtekar 35, J Holmes 34, J McCollum 3-24, G Kidd 2-11): Waringstown 124-2, 17 overs (G Thompson 57 no, L Nelson 56 no, I Kamtekar 2-23).

Waringstown entertain CIYMS at The Lawn on Friday night in what should be an entertaining Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup match.