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Templepatrick and Woodvale share the spoils in dramatic last over thriller

Templepatrick and Woodvale share the spoils in dramatic last over thriller

Woodvale needed six off the last over bowled by Charles Swart, who picked up two wickets to leave them needing two off the last ball. Matthew Peak managed one before being run out to leave the scores level on 127.
Ben Cave had cleared the ropes four times for the hosts in a hard-hit 33, while there was a first appearance of the season for Sri Lankan international Sandun Weerakkody, who made 19, with James Martin picking up three wickets.
Ruhan Pretorius (33) and Ludwig Kaestner (26) had added 64 for the second wicket to put Woodvale on top before the late drama.
The Instonians bandwagon rolls on with Neil Rock once again in the runs in their victory over Muckamore.
'Pebbles' thumped 11 fours and four sixes in a 31-ball 78, giving another reminder to Ireland chief of selectors Andrew White – who happened to be batting at the other end!
The pair shared a fourth wicket stand of 77 in 33 balls, with White striking seven boundaries in a quickfire 52 as Inst posted 203 for seven.
Muckamore were never in contention as early wickets for Shane Dadswell and James Magee all but ended the game. Jude Keates hit a defiant half century, but it was too little too late as the Shaw's Bridge side closed out a 58-run win.
Waringstown lost again, this time to a very much in-form CIYMS by 48 runs. Herman Rolfes top-scored for the Belmont side with 65 from 42 balls (seven fours, two sixes) adding 89 in eight overs with skipper John Matchett, who scored a rapid 44.
There were runs too for Chris Dougherty (31) and Jake Egan (21) in a total of 191 for six.
Matchett then took three wickets as Waringstown were bowled out for 143 – Adam Dennison hitting four sixes in a counterattacking 37.
In the North West, there were wins for Bready, Brigade, Newbuildings – for whom Jason Dunn and Johnny Thompson shared an opening stand of 149 – Coleraine, Eglinton, Killyclooney, and Ballyspallen – who chased 200 to beat Ardmore in a remarkable game.
Junaid Ali had scored 101 for the Bleachgreen side, but Isaac Bird's 51-ball 102 set up the Bridge Park side for a stunning seven-wicket victory in the 18th over.
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Nikolai Smith reveals what the key behind Inst's rise from bottom half to treble chasers has been
Nikolai Smith reveals what the key behind Inst's rise from bottom half to treble chasers has been

Belfast Telegraph

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  • Belfast Telegraph

Nikolai Smith reveals what the key behind Inst's rise from bottom half to treble chasers has been

That's a far cry from the struggles of 2024, and skipper Nikolai Smith has hailed the influence of their overseas professional in the upturn in their fortunes. 'It's all gone really, really well so far with so many guys in great form,' said Smith. 'We have bounced back really well from last season when we were in the bottom half of the League. 'Shane Dadswell returning as our overseas professional has made a huge difference as he is fantastic with the players. 'He's so positive and having him in the team is massive. Not only his contributions with bat and ball but the way he interacts with everyone has just given the club a massive boost. 'He adds so much and lifts everyone, making them feel two feet taller, giving them tremendous belief in their ability. 'Cade Carmichael, Neil Rock and Cian Robertson are having excellent seasons, as well as others all chipping in. Everyone has stepped up and are all doing really well for us. 'We're helped too by the fact we have such a strong second XI, and they are pushing for places and putting the first-team guys under pressure, which is helping everyone be at their best and perform. 'The key to our success this year so far has been individuals focusing on their own job and doing it well.' Despite that strong start, they haven't won anything yet, and have some huge matches coming up against Waringstown both in the Premiership and Cup Final, as well as a T20 Final next week against Cliftonville Academy. 'There are some really good teams in the League, so there are no games where you think that this will be easy. You have to be at your best every week. We are really looking forward to the Cup Finals,' continued Smith. 'They are so tough to win, and the fact that we are mostly playing away from home in the remaining matches makes it a little bit tougher, but we are in a great position. 'It won't just be Waringstown that we have to perform against as you have to beat good teams to win things, and we will be doing our best just to do that.' Instonians passed two massive tests of their trophy credentials in July with back-to-back wins over rivals Lisburn – victories that have given the Shaw's Bridge side massive belief. 'While the toss in those matches was obviously important, the guys were really up for it and played some tremendous cricket against a very good team,' he added. 'The bowling unit was superb and the batters all did their jobs. We weren't expecting to chase 180 both days, so to win comfortably just instils more confidence that we can beat any team on our day.' Smith has actually played international cricket – not for his native South Africa or indeed Ireland where he has lived for the past 12 years with his local wife and two young children, but for Italy, where his mother hails from. It's been a huge week for the Azzurri, who beat Scotland to qualify for next year's T20 World Cup. Smith played 10 times for Italy, making his debut in 2019, and scoring a century against Kenya in a 50-overs game. Was there any chance of a return for the 32-year-old all-rounder? 'It's been a fantastic achievement for them to qualify as these tournaments are always notoriously tough. It's so good for Italian cricket as a whole and will allow them to really grow the game,' he said. 'In terms of myself, I would love to play for them again, but I'm realistic enough to know they have some really fantastic players now and I didn't really perform that well when I was there. 'I'm certainly still available for selection, but if it did happen, I would have to score runs and try and nail down a spot. 'Not being in the team is down to me not really taking the chances when I had them.' Instonians are away at CIYMS in the first match of the top-six split, while Lisburn entertain Muckamore and North Down host Waringstown. In the relegation battle, Woodvale take on CSNI, while Cliftonville Academy face Templepatrick. In the North West, Newbuildings and Brigade meet twice, firstly in the League and on Sunday in their rearranged Faughan Valley Cup Final. Leaders Donemana are at struggling Strabane, Bready host bottom side Eglinton and Ardmore meet Coleraine.

Waringstown and Instonians locked at summit as duo back up Cup wins with League triumphs
Waringstown and Instonians locked at summit as duo back up Cup wins with League triumphs

Belfast Telegraph

time06-07-2025

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Waringstown and Instonians locked at summit as duo back up Cup wins with League triumphs

The Shaw's Bridge side again opted to bowl first in their clash with third-placed Lisburn, and once again their bowlers responded to the challenge by restricting them to 186 in an innings that never really got going. Ross Adair (20) and Nigel Jones (26) got starts, but only when Ben Calitz was in full flow did Lisburn get a foothold in the contest. The Irish passport-holding South African hit three sixes and fours in a 42-ball 47, adding 83 for the fourth wicket with skipper Neil Whitworth (36). However, Cian Robertson spun his left-arm magic, claiming four wickets for just 23 to put the home side firmly in control. Shane Dadswell (three for 30) and two wickets for Ben Rose reaffirmed the advantage, and a final total of 186 looked to be well short of challenging. Cade Carmichael had missed out in Saturday's Cup win, but the Irish international cashed in with a brilliant 77-ball 117 that included 15 fours and four maximums to break the back of the chase. His century means that he is the leading run-scorer in the League with 473 runs, just ahead of Jason van der Merwe. Carmichael added 112 with Rob McKinley (24), and that allowed Inst to coast to a six-wicket win in the 28th over – Dadswell bringing the game to a hasty conclusion by thumping three fours and a six in the final four balls. For Lisburn, a 2025 season that promised so much is in danger of falling apart, with their main hope for silverware now resting on the Irish Senior Cup where they travel to play Balbriggan in the last-four. Waringstown kept pace with Instonians thanks to an emphatic seven-wicket win at Cliftonville Academy in a match reduced to 25 overs. Abhishek Raut hit a 32-ball unbeaten 56 as the home side posted what looked a competitive 174 for five – Varun Chopra making a run-a-ball 36 (five fours) and Hayden Melly 27. The Topping brothers, though, made light work of the chase as they shared an opening stand of 125 in just 80 balls. Morgan hit eight fours and six sixes in a 56-ball 87, while younger brother Sam's 36-ball 53 included five fours and three maximums. John Glass claimed two wickets, but the seven-wicket win was sealed in the 19th over. Woodvale and North Down shared a dramatic tie in a see-saw game at Ballygomartin Road – a result that saw both happy to get something from the match in the end. Stevie Saul just missed out on a century, getting two from the final ball of the North Down innings to end on 99 – seven fours, four sixes – adding 127 for the fourth wicket with Mickey Copeland as they made 193 for five in 35 overs. Woodvale looked beaten as they slumped to 78 for six, but Carl Robinson's 51-ball 64 got them right back into contention as he added 104 in 17 overs for the seventh wicket with Zara Khan (49 not out). Some 17 were still needed from the last two overs when last man Anek Anil joined Khan, but they chipped away and the equation came down to three from the final ball. Anil managed to scramble two, ensuring a share of the spoils. North Down finished in the top six for the split, while Woodvale's two points meant they moved off the bottom above Templepatrick. Meanwhile, in the North West, there was a real shock as leaders Donemana lost by 42 runs to bottom side Bready in a rearranged game. David Rankin top-scored with 64 as Bready posted 194 for seven – four wickets for Jordan McGonigle, who came out of retirement to compensate for Andy McBrine's unavailability. Teenager Travis Faulkner took three wickets as the League leaders slumped to 62 for seven, and although they rallied with runs for brothers Billy (38) and DJ Dougherty (28), Faulkner returned to claim his fourth in a victory that lifted Bready off the bottom of the table.

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