Two cup exits as Waringstown run comes to a sudden halt

Waringstowns James McCallum takes a tumble in a bid to reach the crease in the cup tie against CIYMS at The Lawn. Pic by Presseye.

Saturday proved to be yet another frustrating day for 50 over cricket with yet another delayed start and a reduced overs Arthur J Gallagher Senior Cup semi-final at The Lawn.

Visitors CSNI won the crucial toss in the 35 overs per side game by putting Waringstown into bat.

Losing James Hall for eight to a great catch in the deep, James McCollum and Adam Dennison steadied the ship. McCollum departed caught behind for 33 and skipper Lee Nelson joined Dennison and took the score to 107 in the 23rd over before Nelson ran himself out for 12.

Dennison was next to go for a well-played 41 caught on the deep square leg boundary. Soon after the players left the field due to another heavy shower and an early tea was taken.

When resuming the game had been reduced to 33 overs per side and Waringstown had another 7.4 overs to bat. Greg Thompson and Cobus Pienaar both made 13 apiece and powerful late hitting from David Dawson 32 not out and Kyle McCallan 20 not out saw the home side finish on 188-6 after 33 overs.

During the short turnaround the total was adjusted via Duckworth/Lewis and CSNI required 194 for victory.

The visitors reply started positively as some sloppy fielding from the home side saw CSNI race to 43 in seven overs before Phil Eaglestone (1-40) had Wayne Horwood caught by Kyle McCallan at short fine leg.

Waringstown missed a big chance when Adam Dennison failed to hold onto a catch at mid-wicket to remove professional Amjad when on nine.

Soon after the same player did take a catch off the bowling of Gary Kidd (1-40) as CSNI captain Andrew Cowden departed for 29.

With the game in the balance at 98-2 in the 19th over Jason Van de Merve (24) was run out by the combination of Kidd and Dennison. Leaving the visitors requiring 94 from the final 12 overs.

Shane Getkate joined Amjad and the pair saw their side home with some powerful striking to all parts of the ground.

The game was finished in the 28th over with Getkate on 46 not out and Amjad taking the man of the match award with 71 to his name.

This was a disappointing day for Waringstown when a sloppy performance in the field put paid to their chances of a final spot as the visitors deservedly booked their place at Comber at the end of the month.

The other semi-final between CIYMS and Carrickfergus was abandoned and must be replayed.

Following the match skipper Lee Nelson said, “Obviously it’s very disappointing in both performance and result.

“I don’t think we deserved to win, we were poor in all three aspects at times and these days can happen and we just have got to train hard and put it right this weekend.”