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Belfast Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
I never planned on staying in Ireland… but now it feels like home, beams well-travelled Ben Calitz
Ben Calitz will be the centre of attention as he makes a return to Muckamore with his new club Lisburn, who are in a three-way tie at the top of the NCU Premiership alongside Instonians and Waringstown.
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
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Graham Hume's return helps reignite Waringstown's League title challenge against Instonians
The Irish international has been suffering with an elbow injury but was back to his best, dismissing Neil Rock, Cade Carmichael and Andrew White in his first two overs to leave the Shaw's Bridge side reeling on 13 for three. Shane Dadswell cleared the ropes three times in an enterprising 35, but two wickets apiece for Daniel van der Merwe, James Cameron-Dow and Greg Thompson saw Instonians bundled out for just 81. Sam (41) and Morgan Topping (19) knocked off 59 of those in an opening partnership to all but seal the win, with Sam top-scoring with 41 (4 fours, 1 six). Muckamore's replacement professional Madhav Kaushik hit the ground running with a match-winning half century at North Down to give the Moylena side their first points of the campaign. The Indian cleared the ropes four times and hit four fours in a 25-ball 54 to help Muckamore to 151 for seven – runs too for Jamie Magowan (25) and Jason van der Merwe (20) – while Ally Shields claimed four wickets. In a tense chase, Ryan Haire's 31 gave the Comber side a shout, but his dismissal with 22 needed off two overs proved decisive as Muckamore won by 17 runs. Templepatrick are still searching for their first win of the season after they crashed to a 70-run loss at CSNI. Marc Ellison hit six fours and two sixes in a top-score of 58 from 52 balls as the Stormont side made 156 for five, with 26 apiece for Sean Davey and Adam Leckey. Charlie Swart top-scored with 41 (five fours, one six), but received little support as they were bowled out for 86. Teenagers Harry Dyer (4-7), Finn Lutton (3-17), and Seb Yeates (2-5) doing the damage. Meanwhile, in the NW T20 Cup, the four group winners who will play in the Faughan Valley Cup Semi-Finals have been decided. Newbuildings captain Ross Hunter took five wickets, including a hat-trick as his side beat Bready, while Donemana finished unbeaten after a 20-run win over Killyclooney that saw the McClintock twins each hitting five sixes and Anuj Jotin taking four wickets. Andy Millar's half century ensured Eglinton progressed, while holders Brigade got the 11 runs they needed from the final over – boundaries for Josh Wilson and James Smallwoods breaking Coleraine hearts in a thrilling two-wicket win off the penultimate ball.
Belfast Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Neil Whitworth leads the way as Lisburn survive CIYMS scare to net Challenge Cup Quarter-Final place
Jack Beattie top-scored with 43 and Carson McCullough made 32 as the Belmont side posted 183 for nine – three wickets apiece for Josh Manley and Ross Adair. The chase started poorly for the hosts as they slumped to 54 for four, but Whitworth's unbeaten 54 guided them home in the penultimate over, sharing a vital stand of 52 in 46 balls with Nigel Jones (22). Meanwhile, in the Gallagher Women's Challenge Cup, Jemma Gillan scored a century to help her CSNI side to an emphatic 179-run win over Instonians. The Stormont side piled on 262 for six with Gillan hitting 14 boundaries in her 80-ball innings, sharing a record third wicket partnership of 167 in 19 overs with Rachael Thomas (35). Anna Ellerby with three wickets was the pick of the Shaws Bridge side. Instonians in reply were bowled out for just 83 – four wickets for Emily Carville. Holders Waringstown were also convincing winners at North Down. The Comber side were bowled out for 111, with skipper Amy Boyd top-scoring with 20. The Waringstown bowling unit stuck to their task well, with two wickets apiece for Naomi Matthews, Cara Murray, Rachel Harrison and Penny Speer. Amy Caulfield (22) got the chase off to a fast start, and a second wicket partnership of 70 between Player of the Match Sophie Hinds and Charlotte Lyons (23) took them to the brink of victory. Hinds hit eight boundaries in a quickfire unbeaten 52 from just 38 balls to secure an eight-wicket win. In-form Holywood were also in top form as they brushed aside Muckamore to win by nine wickets. Alex Atkinson claimed three wickets for just two runs to collect the Player of the Match award as the Moylena side could only muster 83. There were two wickets apiece also for Tasmin Hope and Madison Landsman. South African Landsman – who has also represented the Netherlands – then clubbed eight fours and a maximum in a 27-ball undefeated 51, adding 68 for the second wicket with Eva Cupitt (11 not out).
Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Shane Dadswell leads the way as rampant Instonians smash more records in win over Woodvale
The records continue to tumble at Shaw's Bridge. Just two weeks after Neil Rock hit the highest 20-over score in the NCU, Instonians scored 458 against Woodvale, the highest-ever total in the Premier League.
