Waringstown into T20 Cup final after late wobble

The villagers were seemingly cruising to victory chasing a modest target of 119.

Waringstown needed just six to win from the last two overs but Lee Nelson and professional Cobus Pienaar both fell to the part-time seam of Alistair Shields (4-20) in a dramatic penultimate over.

The game had become needlessly tight, but David Dawson booked a final date with Lisburn next week by hitting his first ball for four to clinch a five-wicket win.

North Down will rue a spectacular batting collapse which followed a rapid opening stand of 66 in seven overs between Pieter Malan and Jacob Mulder, who hit 39 from 19 balls.

Mulder fell to Phil Eaglestone after hitting five fours and two sixes, but it was Greg Thompson’s wicket of the prolific Malan, who made 42 from 46 balls, that turned the momentum of the game.

Alistair Shields stood tall amongst the carnage, as eight batsmen managed just nine runs between them.

Thompson took 3-17 and there were two wickets apiece for Kyle McCallan and Eaglestone as North Down at one stage lost five wickets for just eight runs.

Waringstown took command in reply as James Hall struck 43 from just 37 balls, including four fours and two sixes. At 76 for one and then 114 for three, the villagers were cruising but they made it difficult for themselves in that nervy finale.

At The Lawn: North Down 118 (P Malan 42, J Mulder 39, G Thompson 3-17, K McCallan 2-15, P Eaglestone 2-18). Waringstown 120-5 (J Hall 43, C Pienaar 30, A Dennison 20, A Shields 4-20). Waringstown won by five wickets.