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Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Amy Hunter and Bella Armstrong lead The Dragons to T20 Trophy delight
Irish international Hunter stroked 12 boundaries in a top score of 89 from just 58 balls in the morning win over Scorchers. The 19-year-old shared an opening stand of 171 in 17 overs with New Zealand overseas player Armstrong, matching each other blow for blow, with the latter clearing the ropes three times and hitting 11 fours in her 85 from 54 deliveries. The Dragons finished on an imposing 202 for four, with two wickets apiece for Irish internationals Sophie MacMahon and Ava Canning. Gaby Lewis was, however, undaunted by the huge chase, and while she was at the crease the target looked within reach. She thumped 14 fours and a maximum in a fluent 77 from 39 balls, but none of the other batters were able to score at the required rate. Louise Little made 26 in an opening stand of 59, while Canning bunted two over the ropes in a breezy 24, but they fell 38 adrift on 164 all out. Arlene Kelly took three wickets, while there were two apiece for Armstrong and Orla Prendergast. The afternoon game followed a similar script with Hunter and Armstrong adding 141 in 14 overs for the opening wicket. Armstrong hit 17 boundaries in a rapid 90, while Hunter's 62 included 11 fours. Prendergast kept the runs flowing with a quick-fire unbeaten 25 as The Dragons finished on 191 for three. Rebecca Stokell got the reply off to a quick start with five fours in a 13-ball 25, but was run out just after a rain break. Leah Paul looked good in her 45 (five fours), and there was some hope as former Irish captain Laura Delany was joined by Zara Craig (18). The pair added 56 in six overs but the required rate was just too much. Delany finished unbeaten on 60 from 47 balls (five fours), but the Dragons prevailed by 11 runs. Meanwhile, in the NCU Women's Premiership, defending champions Waringstown are two wins away from another title after an eight-wicket win at home to Muckamore. Two wickets apiece from Abigaile Gerken and Lucia Derby helped them restrict the Moylena side to 80 for seven — Nikki Niblock making 22. Fiona Murray took two wickets in the chase, but a third-wicket partnership of 44 between Amy Caulfield (31 not out) and Gerken (23 not out) clinched the easy win in the 12th over. Holywood's title ambitions suffered a major jolt when they were beaten by 10 runs (DLS) by CSNI. The Seapark side were bundled out for just 72 with three wickets for Eva Wilson, and two apiece for Katie West and Emily Carville. Wilson (19) then added 51 for the second wicket with skipper Jemma Gillan (21 not out) that saw CSNI ahead of the game when the match was stopped by the rain after 15 overs. North Down's Gracie Keenan hit nine fours in an unbeaten 77, sharing a second wicket stand of 91 with Kiara Fisher (42) as the Comber side made 159 for one against Lisburn. Gracie Wilson (51) and Lucy Andrews (36) added 92 in 13 overs but the Wallace Park side fell 13 runs adrift in another match curtailed by the weather.
Belfast Telegraph
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Cliftonville Academy and Instonians book T20 Cup Final clash after impressive last-four triumphs
CIYMS collapsed in the first match from 51 for one to 100 all out to make CA strong favourites at the midway point. Ben Kane and Jared Wilson each took three wickets, while overseas professional Abhishek Raut claimed two. The chase looked like being a routine one as Raut (19) and Francis Collins (22) shared an opening stand of 43 before left-arm spinner Alex Armstrong intervened. The teenager took two wickets and also ran out Raut, deflecting a Wilson drive onto the stumps at the non-striker end. Suddenly, it was very much game on at 72 for six, but John Glass – who famously hit six sixes off the last over to win the T20 Trophy for Ballymena in 2021 – and skipper Matthew McCord held their nerve to seal a four-wicket win off the penultimate ball. 'We've targeted this competition from pre-season, and I'm just delighted we got over the line today and into the Final,' said a relieved McCord afterwards. 'Our bowling attack put in a great shift to keep them to 100, and we needed every one of those runs in the end in a tight finish. 'Abhi and Frank gave us a great start in the chase, and one of our big strengths in this format is our deep batting with 1-11 capable of clearing the ropes. 'Unfortunately, we went through most of us to get over the line today, but the closeness made it that bit sweeter too as we really had to fight for it. 'John played a brilliant knock – I had no doubts when we needed 29 off 23 that us two would see us home. 'Cliftonville Academy have never won a senior trophy since the merger, starting in Section Two in 2018, and it's been 28 years from Cliftonville's last senior trophy, so we've been very motivated to be the first group since 1997 to do that. 'The T20 Finals day is a great occasion and we can't wait to play in it.' South African professional Shane Dadswell was the match-winner as Instonians overcame CSNI in the afternoon match. He cleared the ropes six times in a top score of 64 from just 31 balls to help the Shaw's Bridge side to 158 for six, with runs too for Cian Robertson (30 not out). Matthew Foster (two for 16) was by far the pick of the Stormont side's attack. Early wickets from James Magee and Cian Robertson meant CSNI were always chasing the game. Teenager Adam Leckey gave them hope with a defiant 40, but 24 were needed from the last over. Ryan Hunter (27*) managed 15, but the task was just too much as Instonians clinched an eight-run win. Meanwhile, Bangor will meet Cregagh in the T20 Trophy decider after comfortable wins in the last-four. Favourites Carrickfergus were bundled out for just 88, with three wickets apiece for Chris Pyper and Angus Farrell. Sam McMillan's 33 sealed the seven-wicket win with five overs to spare. Meanwhile, Adam McCormick (61*) and Jonny Moore (44*) shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 90 as Cregagh chased 121 to beat Donacloney Mill by nine wickets.
Belfast Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Orla Prendergast takes centre stage to help Dragons roar home over Scorchers
The Irish international hit 13 boundaries in her 116, sharing a third wicket stand of 119 with Amy Hunter after Ava Canning had struck twice in the opening over. Hunter hit eight fours in a stylish 62, while Arlene Kelly was also in the runs, making 41 as she and Prendergast added a further 107 for the fourth wicket. Cara Murray chipped in with an even-time 26 in a final total of 284 for seven. Gaby Lewis was clearly the leading threat to the Dragons' hopes, with the Ireland captain racing to 91 out of the first 120 scored before she fell to Bready all-rounder Alana Dalzell, who claimed four wickets in a fine display of swing bowling. Sophie MacMahon hit a valiant 42, but the result was never in doubt. Meanwhile, in the NCU Women's Premiership, Holywood beat Waringstown in the top-of-the-table clash. The Lawn side were in early trouble with star players Amy Caulfield and Charlotte Lyons both back in the pavilion, but they were steadied by a third wicket partnership of 78 between Naomi Matthews, who made an unbeaten 40, and Samantha Bond (28). Tamsin Hope took three wickets, and a final total of 103 for five looked below par. That indeed proved to be the case as Lara Maritz hit six fours in a top score of 46, sharing an opening stand of 65 with Eva Cupitt (20), while Madison Landsman (22 not out) was also in the runs in an eight-wicket win. CSNI are in third place after a 50-run (DLS) win over Lisburn. Skipper Jemma Gillan was once again in the runs, hitting six boundaries in her 43-ball 55. She and Sarah Rountree (28) put on 83 for the second wicket that saw the Stormont side post 148 for three. Lisburn's reply never really got going despite 24 for Amelia Hughes. They were struggling on 47 for six in the 13th over when rain brought a premature end to proceedings. CSNI's bowling unit did well with two wickets apiece for Vanessa Minford, Eva Wilson and Emily Carville. The bowlers were also on top at North Down where Evey Keenan claimed five wickets for just eight runs as Muckamore were bowled out for 60. Kiara Fisher (31) and Gracie Keenan (26) shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 62 to seal a comprehensive nine-wicket win.
Belfast Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
CSNI and Cliftonville Academy march into T20 Cup Semi-Finals
Teenagers James West and Adam Leckey were the batting heroes at Stormont with the pair sharing a second wicket stand of 92 in 12 overs as CSNI posted 174 for five. West top-scored with a 49-ball 61 that included nine boundaries, while Leckey's 50 from 38 deliveries saw him clear the ropes three times as well as striking four fours. There were also breezy cameos from Harry Dyer (21 not out) and skipper Stuart Thompson (18), while Evan Carlisle claimed two wickets for Templepatrick. Sean Davey struck two early blows in the chase, before a rain interruption meant a revised target of 134 in 14 overs. The visitors never threatened at any stage, limping to 83 for eight, with Patrick Tice top scoring with 25, professional Sandun Weerakkody making 24 and Charlie Swart 20. Leckey claimed two wickets in a fine all-round display, while there were also a brace for Davey and Finn Lutton. Cliftonville Academy had already been assured of topping the group and they signed off in style with a fourth win in succession at Woodvale. A solid batting effort saw them post 160 for five, with skipper Matthew McCord hitting a 24-ball 33, Dawood Khan a run-a-ball 32, Hayden Melly an unbeaten 26, and Jared Wilson a breezy 23. The Woodvale reply was very much all about Ruhan Pretorius, who almost single-handedly pulled off an unlikely victory. The South African hit eight fours and seven sixes in his 53-ball 91, with the last two maximums leaving 28 needed from ten balls. However, John Glass held his nerve to have Pretorius caught off a slower ball at cover to end his valiant effort. Ben Kane had earlier claimed four wickets and Varun Chopra two in a case of 'spin to win' - the final victory margin 24 runs.
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tom Mayes keen to prove his worth to Waringstown and Ireland after his injury nightmare
However, to add insult to injury, the side strain that limited his appearances to just seven saw Cricket Ireland decline to renew his retainer contract for 2025. That has motivated the 24-year-old South African, who has an Irish passport through his paternal grandparents, to try even harder, and he has certainly hit the ground running with a century in the first game of the campaign and a six-wicket haul in the second, no doubt helped by a successful pre-season tour with Ireland Wolves. 'I've been working hard on my batting over the winter with a few coaches in South Africa and while I've not changed too much technically, it's more a question of confidence,' he explained. 'I've always had it in me and it's about time that I showed it. I was blessed to be on that Wolves tour, playing at that level with those coaches and facilities. It was good to put in some good performances there personally and it was a great confidence booster to take into the season here and hopefully stay in the selectors' minds. 'With Ireland having money issues this year, there were cuts to the number of players offered contracts. I missed out but there are chats, and if I can keep playing good cricket then that hopefully will take of itself.' Now fully settled here and in a relationship with CSNI cricketer Abi Leckey, Mayes is keen to repay the faith Waringstown have in him. 'I'm very keen to add value to Waringstown who are one of the biggest clubs in Ireland. I want the team to have even more success as the season rolls on, and certainly want to play an integral part in that, hopefully bringing more trophies to the club.' Waringstown suffered a blip in their title defence on Monday losing by 12 runs to CIYMS, but will be strong favourites to beat newly promoted Templepatrick, while the Belmont side entertain Muckamore on Saturday. In the other games Instonians will be fancied to account for Woodvale, CSNI might find it tough against North Down, while table-toppers Lisburn will aim to make it four from four at the Castle Grounds Meanwhile, in the North West, it's the opening round of the SportsHub Senior Cup where the seeded nature of the draw gives smaller clubs the chance to cause an upset or two. Sion Mills, the competition's most successful team with 29 wins, are back after an 11-year absence from the event and they have been given a home draw against a Coleraine side that has started the season well, sitting in second place in the Premiership table. Donemana start their quest to add to their 23 wins with a very tricky trip indeed down the Ballyheather Road to face neighbours Killyclooney. Fresh in their minds will be a shock loss in the League last year which almost derailed their Premiership title. Donemana though are a different beast with Irish international Andy McBrine in their ranks, and look to have acquired a quality overseas professional in Anuj Jotin. Holders Newbuildings have lost both their League games to date and won't be relishing the prospect of taking on a fired-up Glendermott at The Rectory. The availability of West Indian international Peat Salmon though could well make the difference. Bonds Glen will be without professional Divan Posthumus following the death of his father for their game at Ardmore, while Bready will be hoping to be back to full strength for the Tyrone derby at Fox Lodge. In the other ties, Strabane entertain St Johnston, Ballyspallen take on Brigade and Eglinton have home advantage over Burndennett.
