Powerful performance sees Waringstown coast through

Losing the toss Waringstown took to the field first at North County and fine opening spells from Cobus Pienaar (3-31) and Phil Eaglestone (2-27) put their side right in control.

After 10 over the home side were in big trouble at 40 for four and things got worse for the Balbriggan side when the left arm spin of Gary Kidd was introduced into the attack has he picked up a wicket in his first over with wicket keeper Marcus McClean taking the catch behind the stumps.

That was one of four catches for the up upcoming keeper who also had his hand in two run outs in a good display behinds the sticks.

The first of the run outs came via the combination of Adam Dennison and McClean for the sixth wicket and the next wicket fell to Kyle McCallan (1-4) from his five overs.

Kidd grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 22nd over and finished his 10 over spell soon after with two for 27.

Phil Eaglestone came back into the attack to pick up the ninth wicket and the home side’s misery was complete when trying to run a rather risky third run a throw from James McCollum to McClean saw the batsman well short of his ground.

North County were all out for 107 in the 34th over and after a 10 minute turnaround Waringstown openers James McCollum and James Hall went out to start the visitors reply.

With the score on 27 Hall received a long hop that seemed to stick in the pitch and unfortunately found the hands of the fielder at cover.

Cobus Pienaar joined McCollum and the pair raced along playing some fine shots. McCollum brought up his sides 50 in the 10th over with a cover drive to the boundary.

Just after the pair had put on a 50 partnership Pienaar (23) mistimed a full toss and was caught at mid- off in the 15th over.

Adam Dennison (8*) joined McCollum with the later bringing up his 50 with another boundary though the covers and in the 19th over McCollum finished the game in style pulling a six over the mid-wicket boundary to end with 63* from 68 balls which included ten boundaries and that one match winning maximum.

Following the game Waringstown captain Lee Nelson had this to say following the weekends triple header, “Today’s win has just capped of a great weekend for the club with the back to back Premier league wins and now after today we have a semi-final to look forward to and just one win away from another All Ireland final.”

With Nelson not getting the rub of the green lately with the winning of the coin toss this weekend has turned out a good weekend to lose it.

“It has worked out twice at the weekend that it has been a good toss to lose’’ smiled Nelson.

“Cobus and Phil “(Eaglestone) bowled well up front and when they bowl like that they are a handful for anybody and then obviously the spinners can squeeze when they come on after them and it was pretty much a complete performance.

“We were great in the field also with a couple of run out added in and young Marcus McClean has stepped in behind the stumps really well.

“We don’t know what the situation is yet with Johnny Bushe at the minute but Marcus has done remarkably well and hasn’t missed to many chances and it is another Waringstown example of somebody who puts the work in and he is young and is going to be given his chance.’”

Waringstown have been drawn at home to Instonians in the semi-final of the Irish Senior Cup. The other tie sees Merrion face YMCA.

The match will be played on Saturday, August 13.