Derriaghy down as top-flight task proves too tough

Back in April most predicted this, however, they confounded the critics with some sterling early-season performances but ultimately succumbed to the inevitable.

Batting first in a T20 contest, they were off to a flying start with 30 runs coming from the first four overs. After that, wickets fell at regular intervals and 100 was never realistically a winning target against CSNI.

Kaushik Aphale top-scored with 46 not out from 44 balls but it was the bowling of both Jordan Wilson (2-24) and Jason van der Merwe (2-14) that impressed. Ben Adair though was the most parsimonious with only 10 runs in his spell.

CSNI required 13.3 overs to knock the runs off, with Mansoor Amjad scoring 59 not out from 49 balls, with skipper Andrew Cowden undefeated on 34 from 32 balls.

Down the road at Belmont, Lisburn’s one-wicket triumph over CIYMS proved a talking point.

The scoreboard had Lisburn requiring 12 runs from the final two overs with only one wicket remaining.

Suddenly, the players shook hands and walked off the pitch. It took some time for the crowd to realise that Lisburn had won due to a 12-run penalty being imposed by the umpires for CIYMS’ slow over rate.

This was very much a one-man show as David Simpson made 116 not out from 88 balls with 11 fours and five sixes.

CIYMS were left to rue a number of dropped catches, failing to capitalise on a start which saw them 150-2 with 20 overs remaining. The admirable Allen Coulter didn’t deserve to be on the losing side after taking the first four wickets to fall, finishing with 5-35.

John Matchett made 70 from 85 balls with eight fours and a six and skipper Nigel Jones top-scored with 76. For Lisburn, Doak and Richard McConkey each took three wickets.

On Saturday, CI’s last chance of remaining in the title race disappeared in the face of a batting blitz from Instonians’ Rusty Theron, the only man on either side to master the difficult pitch - with 88, whilst Johnny Thompson took 5-27.

Stephen Bunting made the headlines with the ball taking a hat-trick. Robert McKinley completed the damage with 4-25 to seal a 62-run victory.

Carrickfergus beat Derriaghy by seven wickets, with unbeaten half-centuries from Iain Parkhill and Pat Botha.

North Down were dismissed for just 127, 53 from Jacob Mulder and it was 55 from Gary Wilson which saw CSNI home by seven wickets.