Donegal men cause another shock

Rammohan Goud played his part in St Johnston's impressive win over Strabane.

It was no fluke either as the Donegal side got their disciplines spot on while the Premier Division men failed to shine with either bat or ball.

Ryan Patton would have to be exempt from any criticism in the first innings after the Red Caps had won the toss and put the Saints in to bat. Patton bowled six maidens in his 10 overs, finishing with figures of 2-15 but elsewhere the batsmen dominated.

It could all have been very different had the visitors capitalised on their decent start as they reduced the home team to 98 for 6 but Jassi Wallia was proving a tougher nut to crack. Wallia shared in a 72-run stand with Rammohan Goud the former hitting 7 fours in a very composed 56 while Goud was the perfect foil as he added 36.

Any thoughts of keeping the score below 200 after that pair went however were blown away by a late cameo from Kushpal Singh whose 39 contained 4 fours and 3 sixes as the Saints were finally dismissed for 220.

Ryan Gallagher picked up three, albeit expensive wickets and Jonny Robinson 2 but at the half way stage Strabane knew they were in a scrap.

The reply began modestly although Matt Bentley looked in good touch at the top of the order however Kevin Martin and Ryan Gallagher fell in quick succession before the prize wicket of Peter Gillespie really got the Saints’ tails up.

Bentley (42) and Aaron Gillespie (17) dug their side back into it before both fell to Ian Macbeth and now Strabane were under the pump.

Jonny Robinson and Tawanda Mupariwa took the score to 138 before the overseas man was bowled by David Anthony and after that the hosts assumed complete control.

Robinson did his level best to turn it around with his 46 but St Johnston refused to take their foot off the throat and eventually won by a cosy 50 runs.

A superb all-round display was capped by 3 wickets for Goud and 2 apiece for the rapidly improving Anthony and man-of-the-match Wallia as a long night at the Boathole moved into full swing.

Elsewhere Coleraine defeated YMCA 3-2 in a bowlout, while despite 101 from Decker Curry, Ardmore lost by 63 runs at Dublin side Merrion, The Hills saw off Bready by securing a 59 runs victory.

Just like Curry, Bready’s Tabish Khan, who is better know for his fast-medium bowling, made a brilliant 131 as Fox Lodge posted 260 for nine batting first against Clontarf at Ballymagorry, but the holders won by nine wickets after the D/L method.