Donaghcloney 2’s beat local rivals Waringstown in league

Matt Lyttle claimed 3 for 25 with the new ball

Donaghcloney took on local rivals Waringstown in a top of the table clash on Saturday 19^th July at the Factory Ground. Richard Lyttle won the toss and decided with a long batting line up to have a bat on a very good pitch. However he was dismissed in the 3^rd over for only 2 runs to his name. Shane Warren and Alan Harland then saw off the open bowlers with Shane playing some very fluent shots to keep the run rate moving. However when Shane (27) and Alan (4) where dismissed in the same over with the score on 45 it brought two new batsmen of Matthew Lyttle and Gareth Copeland to the crease. Matthew soon had his eye in and dispatched Keith Morrison first 2 overs for 20. This forced Waringstown to spread the field that played right into Donaghcloney hands. The two experienced batters now picked up easy singles and twos in a match winning stand of 117. Gareth Copeland was then caught in the 30^th over for 45 and Matthew Lyttle followed soon after for an excellent 74. This brought about a flurry of wickets to fall from Robert Lyttle, Johnny Dowd’s, Johnny Stevenson and Timmy McClure to leave Donaghcloney in a position of not batting the full 40 overs. However Donaghcloney 2XI top run scorer Stephen was still occupying the crease and hit a quick fire 45 off 21 balls to allow Donaghcloney to pass 200 comfortably. A few late blows from William Fisher (14*) meant Donaghcloney finished with an above par score of 249 in 40 overs. Waringstown then got off to a steady but slow start in response thanks to tight bowling from Matthew Lyttle (0-12-5overs) and Jonny Stevenson (0-14-6overs). However it was the spin of Shane Warren (1-26 in 3 Overs) that finally got the break through in the 14^th over with the score on 48.Waringstown then made steady progress before a quality throw from Jonny Dowd’s ran out Waringstown opener Ross Waite for 45. William Fisher (2-50) and Timmy McClure bowled there full 8 overs in the middle overs to leave Waringstown needing 120 to win off 18 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Captain Richard Lyttle then came on to bowl and bowled a tight line for 5 overs picking up 4 wickets for 25 runs and distinguishing all Waringstown chances of winning. Timmy McClure took the other two wickets.  A special mention must also go to Alan Harland who held onto 4 catches in the field whilst being slide tackled by Richard Lyttle in one of them. Robert Lyttle took the last wicket in the 36^th over to give Donaghcloney a 61 run win. The second time this season Donaghcloney have overpowered their local opposition. A big thank you to all whole supported the game – It was nice to see such a large number of spectators down to watch the match. The result leave Donaghcloney top of the league with 5 games to go.