Pretorius helps steer villagers into the Irish Senior Cup final

Ruhan Pretorius makes his way off after his match winning knock of 112 against Pembroke.

The villagers will have home advantage in the showpiece on Saturday, September 5, when they will take on the competition favourites Merrion.

Sunday’s win, inspired by professional Ruhan Pretorius, was closer than the final victory margin suggests, as a fine young Pembroke team caused problems for Lee Nelson’s team with bat and ball.

After Waringstown won the toss and decided to bat first, James McCollum and James Hall had to contend with some movement off the pitch.

McCollum was eventually lbw as he tried to pull a delivery but Hall was in superb touch, clubbing nine fours and a six in a quickfire 47.

The former Ireland batsman was run out after a mix-up with captain Lee Nelson and when Nelson himself was bowled in the 25th over, Waringstown were wobbling on 128 for four.

But Pretorius and Greg Thompson, just as they had done in the quarter-final against Clontarf, produced a superb partnership to take the game away from the home side.

They added 96-run stand for the fifth wicket, the latter hitting three fours and a six in a fine 47 before he holed out at deep mid-wicket in the 41st over.

Pretorius found another excellent ally in David Dawson (27), the pair adding another 56 in less than eight overs, and the South African reached his century off 93 balls with a glorious cover drive off Barry McCarthy.

He eventually perished in the final over after hitting 14 fours and two sixes and a total of 291 for seven represented an imposing target.

The task became more difficult for Pembroke when Phil Eaglestone trapped Benn Hoey lbw in the first over and then in the eighth Pretorius bowled Ryan Hopkins off his pads and produced a beauty to clean up Australian professional Jono Cook for a golden duck.

A run-out accounted for Theo Lawson, and at 47 for four there seemed to be no way back for the home side.

However teenager Lorcan Tucker and Barry McCarthy produced a 78-run stand for the fifth wicket that threatened a real comeback.

In the end their lack of experience probably told, as first McCarthy (30) lofted Gary Kidd (2-49) to Eaglestone at long-on and two overs later Tucker, after an admirable 50 from 66 balls, found Kyle McCallan at long-off.

Nelson then took three for 21 in seven overs as Pembroke were dismissed for 186.