BISC beat Donaghcloney 1st XI while the 2’s defeat local rivals Waringstown

Stevie Hanna gets another 5 wicket haul

On Saturday 17th May Donaghcloney 1st XI traveled to Seapark Oval to face BISC. The Indians were 2 from 2 and Donaghcloney were trying to get back to winning ways after defeat to Academy. BISC won the toss and chose to bat first on what looked like a very good batting track. However things didn’t go to plan for BISC when the in form Steven Hanna broke the opening partnership. He had opener Vinoth caught behind and soon after Ismail fell the same way giving the skipper Martin his 2nd victim of the day. Hanna went on to get a five wickets for only 16 runs from his 10 overs. While Hanna was toiling away, Gary Knox was proving even more frugal at the other end. Knox bowled accurately and ended up with figures of 2 for 13 in his 10 overs. BISC were reduced 81 for 8 in the 35 over and Donaghcloney were looking totally dominant. Unfortunately the match was turned on its head when Brajish and Valish batting 9 and 10 put on a partnership of 71. Brajish ended up undefeated on 59 and Valish finally fell to Matthew Lyttle for 29, BISC finished up on 184-9 after their 50 overs. Disappointingly only Steven Leckey was able to bowl with any accuarcy and all the other Donaghcloney bowlers were wayward and lacked any consistency.

After Tea the Indians didn’t take long to get the early breakthrough when Phil Derby was caught behind for only 3. Harland and Knox battled at the crease but fell in quick succession for 11 and 18 respectfully just as they seemed to be getting on top of the BISC bowlers. Mansing was next to fall for 13 and Matthew lyttle was bowled playing a poor shot for just 8. Lecky was the only batsman who put up any resistance. He pushed the ball about intelligently and was able to punish the bad ball well. His defience was sopped by a good ball from Ismail which knocked over Lecky’s off stump leaving the Cloney on 107 for 6 in the 37th over. It didn’t take BISC to clean up the tail and Donaghcloney were all out for 132. Skipper Keith Martin said after the game “That was a game we should have won. You have to give the lower order batsmen credit for not giving their wickets away and posting a good score. In reality it was a par score and the batsmen just never looked like chasing it down. We will have to improve next week in all departments.” Scorecard here

Meanwhile at the Factory Ground Donaghcloney 2 XI played there most anticipated game of the season on Saturday against local rivals Waringstown III. There was a great sense of excitement around the ground and with so many players turning up early for practice you could sense everybody was ready for the occasion. Donaghcloney won the toss and elected to bat first but things did not go to plan. Opener Richard Lyttle chipped a leg side wide back to the bowler in the third over to give Waringstown an early break through. Not long after Shane Warren was caught in the slip corridor by Jack Carson. Richard Clysedale in at 3 was then adjudged to be out LBW and then Jonny Dowds was out in identical circumstances as Richard Lyttle leaving the score at 12-4 and the visitors were in control.  At the crease now stood Brian Lyttle and Rory Woods. Two very fluent batters who would not be afraid to play there shots. A match saving partnership of 73 runs including 5 sixes between the pair brought the game back into even balance. Rory woods was finally caught on a very well played 50. Brian Lyttle soon followed for a solid 22 leaving the score at 95-6. A solid 16 not out from Kyle Weir and some poor bowling from Waringstown totalling 25 extras ensured Donaghclomey were eventually dismissed for 136 in in only 23 overs with 17 unused. Donaghcloney new they would have to produce a tremendous effort with the ball to win the game. However things started smoothly for Waringstown reaching 33 before William Fisher claimed the first of his 3 wickets. Rory Woods opened the bowling but perhaps the knock of 50 had taken some steam out of him as Waringstown saw him off without any grave scare. This then brought Shane Warren on who with some ‘mysterious’ bowling finished with fine figures of 3-27. This was definitely a spinners wicket as Shane and some of the Waringstown bowlers had demonstrated. By the time William Fisher and Shane Warren had finished their spells Waringstown stood 80-6. Brian Lyttle and Richard Lyttle then took their turn at bowling both claiming a wicket each in what was to be a tense finish. The crowd at this stage had begun to grow as people had got word that this was going to be a close finish. By the time Brian and Richard had finished there spells Waringatown stood on 115- 8. They now needed 22 runs with 2 wickets remaining and 6 overs to get it  in. However Waringatown had an inform Mark Fitzpatrick on 30 at the crease so things were still in Waringstown’s favour. However it was Kyle Weir who changed things getting a wicket with his first ball of the season. A nervous few overs followed and tension was starting to build out in the field with close run outs and LBW calls. However with Waingstown needing 8 runs to win the decision was taken to bring on Donaghcloney youngest player. This was a very nervous moment for young Conor woods who had already impressed with the ball earlier this season but these were surely unknown circumstance to him. With the first ball he bowled Mark Fitzpatrick who top edged a good length ball to a fielder at short fine leg who happened to be Rory Woods, Conor’s big brother. Donaghcloeny had done it. They had got their final wicket with 8 runs to spare. The ground was up in celebration and Waringstown must have felt they let that one get away from them. A marvellous team effort in field backed up with good bowling ensured Donaghcloeny II now go to the top of Junior league 3 with all teams in the league having already lost a match.