Waringstown match club record score in league win as cup hits semi-final stages

In what was a clash between the league’s top two, Carrick seamer Neil Gill picked up the early wicket of James McCollum (12) but it would be all downhill from there for the visitors as Adam Dennison (116) was joined in the middle by Andre Malan (153).

On a scorching afternoon, the pair started to pile runs on and Dennison reached his century first – from 98 balls – before he was bowled by Jeremy Lawlor.

Dennison has struggled to hit the heights he is capable of in recent times but he remains one of the very best in the NCU and reminded everyone just what he can produce.

Malan reached his landmark from 85 deliveries – his third of the season already while also hitting 99 against Woodvale in June – continuing a quite magnificent and frankly unbelievable 2021 campaign.

The South African hit 174* against CIYMS earlier this month and went big yet against Carrick, reaching 153 from 111 before he was bowled by Gill (2-55).

Waringstown’s batting line-up has such depth that the quality keeps coming and Greg Thompson smashed 68 from 41 balls to help drive Waringstown up to their total of 420.

There were two separate partnerships over 100 in the innings – Dennison and Malan (228) and Malan and Thompson (137) on a day the bowlers will want to forget.

Even with a monstrous score on the board, you’re never quite sure what’s enough when Carrick’s overseas professional Jacques Snyman is around and he raced to 57 from 34 balls inside 11 overs.

He was then forced to retire hurt after being struck on the elbow by a James Mitchell delivery and Carrick were ultimately bowled out for 194 – losing by a margin of 226 runs to send Waringstown four points clear at the top.

Aniruddha Chore (140*) also played a sensational innings to help fire North Down to a 53-run victory over CIYMS.

He helped North Down set a total of 260/7 and CIYMS captain Nigel Jones (98) fell just shy of another century in their chase.

There were also wins for CSNI who beat Woodvale by eight wickets while Instonians picked up their second league victory of the season with a four-wicket triumph against Lisburn.

CSNI, CIYMS, North Down and Instonians each booked places in the Gallagher Challenge Cup semi-finals after Sunday wins.

At Stormont, CSNI opener Ross Adair struck 111 from 103 balls to help his side set what turned out to be an insurmountable total of 285/7 against Derriaghy.

The unbeaten Section One leaders started well against Premier League opposition by picking up the wickets of Luke Georgeson (20), Stuart Thompson (1) and Paddy Beverland (2), but Adair looked in fine touch and wasn’t going to be moved.

A partnership of 84 with Chris McMorran (37) helped steady the ship and a further stand of 62 with Archie Johnston (47) took the game away from Derriaghy.

Adair – who showed another side to his game with a more patient innings – was caught in the 41st over but the damage had already been done.

Derriaghy’s chase got off to the worst possible start after losing four wickets for just 16 runs and they were 53-8 inside 14 overs when captain Mark Stinson (24) and Dan Fuzzard (24) came together.

The pair put on 54 for the ninth-wicket with an enjoyable cameo that included 10 boundaries, but when the former was bowled by Matthew Foster to give him his fifth wicket of the innings (5-63) and Fuzzard became Georgeson’s fifth victim (5-40), the game was finished.

Derriaghy ended on 107 to lose by 178 runs and their attention will now firmly be on the league and gaining promotion to the top flight.

It was another centurion at Ballygomartin Road that helped defending champions CIYMS put their name in the hat for the next round as James Cameron-Dow shone against Woodvale.

CIYMS were bowled out for 240 and their target was never under any real pressure as they were able to pick up wickets at regular intervals.

Chris Robinson dismissed the in-form Harry Warke and captain Nigel Jones then had his opening partner James Hall caught at cover to leave the hosts 28-3.

A lot rested on Ruhan Pretorius and he moved through to a half-century but when he was run out at the non-strikers end after Cameron-Dow got a hand on a ball that was drilled back at him, it was all but over and CI won by a margin of 90 runs.

North Down are also still in the hunt for another Challenge Cup crown after an impressive nine-wicket victory over Lisburn at Wallace Park.

The home side were bowled out for 155 with Ryan Haire (5-23) playing a starring role while being backed up by Peter Eakin (2-32) and Carl Robinson (2-35).

Robert Rankin (58) led the way for Lisburn but their total was never going to be enough against a North Down side that are stacked full of quality, even with the absence of Paul Stirling and Craig Young.

Aniruddha Chore (69*) again led from the front and put on another substantial opening stand with captain Alistair Shields (46) before Gayan Maneeshan (34*) helped finish the job off.

Instonians have a fantastic record in this competition over the past decade and they made yet another semi-final after progressing past Cregagh by eight wickets.

Cregagh posted 215 with Jay Hunter (65) continuing his fine 2021 campaign but their progress was hampered by Ben Rose (5-53).

The home side picked up the wickets of Oliver Metcalfe and Jack Dickson but James Hunter (86*) and Nikolai Smith (70*) made sure there was to be no upset.

These four teams will have a keen eye on the draw to see their opponents for the semi-finals, which are set to be played across Sunday, August 1.

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