Big wins for Villagers as Ireland’s Thompson shines

Brigade travelled to Bready in Saturday’s semi-final and had a comfortable five wicket victory.

The home side batted first but were soon in trouble when they lost David Rankin for 15 with the score on 20. They lost Andy Austin and Ernest Kemm cheaply with opener David Barr continuing to anchor the innings, although the run rate was only three per over in the first 25.

Robert Spence was giving Barr good support and with the score on 117 Andy Britton trapped Barr lbw for 69. Spence was joined by Craig Young and they added another 26 before Young went for 18. The innings closed on 192 for nine.

Brigade’s opening pair of Ian McGregor and skipper Gareth McKeegan got their side off to a flyer before, with 60 on the board, McGregor was out for 30.

Dilyn Waterstone went for just one before professional Dilrik Armanath and McKeegan took the game away from the home side taking the score to 171. McKeegan was out for 56 and Armanath was run out for 50 leaving Johnny Thompson and David Murdock seeing the Beechgrove men over the line as they finished on 194 for five.

At Donemana the visitors Coleraine, who are having a poor season, were bowled out for 175 with Niall McDonnell top-scoring with 49. Kamrin Sajid returned the best bowling figures of four for 35. Ricky Lee Dougherty was magnificent behind the stumps with three stumpings and a catch.

The home side were never in any danger losing just four wickets with Andy McBrine top scoring with an undefeated 65.

Two league games were played on Saturday. Fox Lodge’s season just goes from bad to worse as they lost by five wickets at Eglinton. They scored 182 with Brian Allen making 55. The Villagers were never in any trouble chasing their target with Stuart Thompson hitting 59.

Strabane moved to the top of the table after a seven wicket win at home to Ardmore. The visitors scored 157 with Decker Curry again in top form with 82. The Red Caps, with Kevin Martin not out 75, eased home with 15 overs remaining.

On Sunday in the Irish Senior Cup Coleraine’s Niall McDonnell scored a magnificent 103 in his side’s score of 303 for four. However visitors North Down chased down the total losing five wickets with the winning runs coming in the 48th over.

St Johnston travelled to Castle Avenue to take on the holders Clontarf and bowed out although they will have enjoyed the experience of playing on the international ground.

Two league games were played with Brigade defeating Ardmore by 39 runs, with Johnny Thompson top scoring for the home side hitting an impressive 40 runs. At Eglinton the home side got their second win in two days with a 79 run win over Bready, Stuart Thompson was again in excellent form scoring 111.