Lisburn off mark after Wallace Park nail-biter

While North Down’s professional Pieter Malan was easing them to a six-wicket triumph at Derriaghy, Lisburn and Carrickfergus were involved in the proverbial nail-biter at nearby Wallace Park.

Lisburn thought they had done the hard yards. Carrickfergus, so impressive in the first month of the season, had managed just 178 for nine batting first, and that only after Ryan Eagleson led a late-innings fightback with an unbeaten 42. Richard McConkey took 4-27.

Lisburn’s reply started slowly, but there appeared to be only one outcome as South African Cody Chetty and James Magowan cruised to 146 for four.

But what should have been a stroll on a warm afternoon in the park, inexplicably turned into a thriller.

First Magowan (27) was bowled and in the same over Chetty followed for 50, well caught at short cover by Pat Botha.

Simon Olphert, the wicketkeeper, came and went to increase the heart-rates amongst the home supporters, but the nerves were steadied during an eighth-wicket stand between David Simpson and Mark Berry.

With just six required, and the game almost in the bag, Berry went for a big hit off Alex Haggan, and Carrick captain Iain Parkhill held a steepling catch at square-leg.

Botha came back into the attack and with three runs required he trapped number 10 McConkey plumb in front.

Simpson made a difficult choice and took a single of the 48th over to expose number 11 Callum Atkinson but he calmly negotiated the rest of the over.

In the 49th over Simpson took another single to tie the scores and with Atkinson back on strike Botha bowled a leg-side win to spark wild celebrations in the home camp.

It was so much easier for North Down. Craig Lewis and Kaushik Aphale, the engine room of Derriaghy’s batting, again struck half-centuries, but with Marty Moreland taking three wickets, they didn’t capitalise on a fine start and 215 for eight was below par in the conditions.

Daniel Graham got North Down’s reply off to a flier with 45 from just 35 balls, including six fours and two sixes, and in truth they were rarely threatened as Malan played with typical style.

The South African struck an unbeaten 92 from just 98 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes.

North Down were home and dry with eight overs to spare, with Nathan Burns unbeaten at the other end on 32.