WARINGSTOWN xa0handed out a lesson in all three aspects of the game and completely outclassed Dundrum by a massive 201 runs in the Ulster Bank Challenge Cup writes Jeffrey Maquire.
It was a great effort from all the groundstaff to have The Meadow in great shape. Waringstown captain Kyle McCallen with 7 Irish capped players in his team and the superb South African Obus Pieneaar had no hesitationxa0 batting first on a dry wicket, xa0and it was just what the decent crowd was praying for. But it was what the Dundrum opening bowlers wanted as it was xa0their only hope of a shock result with Lee Connor nearly taking out Jamesxa0 Hallin the third ball, but the hard hit catch was dropped by Terry Hutley diving away to his right at mid off .
Kylexa0 McCallen xa0was out in the second over when he was adjudged lbw but was very unlucky as most heard the inside edge. xa0But Mark Yeates wasn’t disappointed as the big fella has been bowling superbly and he should have got the dangerous Lee Nelson on 11 xa0but another catch was spilledxa0 by Baptiste on just 11 runs.
Thexa0 West Indianxa0 made amends after Hall xa0(28) lofted him over the riverxa0 by bowling himxa0 with 44 runs coming inxa0the firstxa0xa07 overs.xa0xa0xa0 Dundrumxa0 have no doubt a very decent opening attackxa0 and got a massive lift when Obus Pienaar wasxa0 again unlucky given out caught by wicket keeper John Tormey… bowler Mark Yeates was bowling quick and just in the right areas with 2 for 9 of 6 quick overs as Waringstown were 53 for 3 of 12 overs, and it was amazing that Greg Thompson survived a massivexa0LBW appeal.
He was nearly walkingxa0 but Waringstown deserved a bit of luck and they never missed a chance to punish any loose ball and ran superbly. Dundrum have one of the best partnership breakers that I have seen in Gavin McNerlin with the very stylish Lee Nelson who took 53 runs including 7×4 and 1×6.
It was Thompson that was dictating the game. He got involved with a situation that was nothing to do with him, xa0but in Waringstown style he upped the tempo with some explosive hitting to all parts of The Meadow in his excellent knock of 71 littered with boundaries, 4 x sixes andxa0 5×4.
Kester Baptiste got into the action as he took out 3 wickets in 3 overs giving him 4 for 53 in ten overs xa0- but 217 runs and stillxa0 11 overs was still on. Dundrum to there credit with threexa0under 17’s xa0-Martin, Symington and Hutley xa0fielding xa0- were tested but they all gave 100% and bowled the mighty Waringstown out with 14xa0balls remaining. xa0Gavin had xa02 for 44 of tenxa0and John Tormey ran outxa0 Gary Kidd and it wasxa0fitting that Lee Connor got his wicket with Eaglestone caught by Rahi Kakade with the total 264xa0.
Waringstown had signed Ireland A opening bowler Phil Eaglstone and he proved a class above Dundrumxa0 taking 3 wickets in xa0his first 3 overs and made it 5 of the first 6 batsmen with no one getting double figures. It was xa05 for 25 and he was to take 7 wickets in the Cup the following day so he is a very impressivexa0opening bowler.
Dundrum had only two players to make double figures – Joel Maguire launched McCallen twice for six andxa0 before the bowler extracted his revenge by hitting middle stump with left arm spinner. xa0Gary Kidd on 3 for 16 took out the tail Lee Connor (8) and Mark Yeates (4) and James Martin played well for 14, xa0but in attempting to hit another six of Kidd it was all over with only 61 runs and a massive defeat from the cup favourites who now play North Down in the next round .
The game was played in good spirits and it was disappointing that 3 Waringstown players were reported for dissent when a quiet talk afterwardsxa0 would havexa0 been sufficient as it is also important that players care about the loss of there wicket.
Match Balls were sponsored by Boley Inn Hilltown
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