CRICKET: Seconds secure Cup final spot

Coleraine were forced to make a couple of changes from the side that defeated the same opposition the last week as Rishi Chopra and Steven Harper were both cup tied. However, they were able to recall the services of Peter Wallace and Bernard Findlay who returned from holiday.

Despite the overcast conditions, Coleraine captain Nigel Barr had enough confidence in his batting line up to bat first upon winning the toss. The faith he showed in his batsmen was rewarded as Coleraine passed the 250 mark for the first time this season.

Coleraine were gifted three runs before a legal delivery was bowled as Andrew Doey struggled to find his line and length. However, the erratic nature of Doey's bowling led to Clive Edgar's downfall as he played at a delivery he normally would have left and was caught behind in the fifth over for seven.

Vishal Chopra joined Johnny Elder at the wicket and the two batted Coleraine into a strong position. Elder continued his recent good form with another excellent knock. He was desperately unlucky with his dismissal as he was backing up at the non-strikers end when Crindle seized upon some indecision and a direct hit from extra cover found Elder out of his ground.

It was a cruel way to go for 26 when he looked so well set, nevertheless, his 83 run partnership with Vishal Chopra was the platform on which the Coleraine innings was built.

There was to be no let up for the Crindle bowlers, however, as Chopra was joined by Peter Wallace who dominated the opposition attack from the word go.

When Chopra departed for an outstanding 63 with the score on 142 after 26 overs Coleraine knew they needed to throw caution to the wind in order to take full advantage of their wickets in hand. Alistair Handforth proved to be the perfect choice to come in at number five as he sought to attack the change bowling of Jack Painter and Andrew Blackburn from the start.

Handforth singled his intentions by getting off the mark with a massive six off Andrew Blackburn which he repeated in his next over as the Coleraine scoring threatened to get out of control.

He was eventually done for lack of pace when he eyed up a full toss from Jack Painter but was on the shot too early and was bowled for 21. He was bitterly disappointed to miss out on a big score but his partnership with Wallace, which was worth 38 inside four overs, gave the Coleraine innings the acceleration it needed at just the right time.

Following Handforth's dismissal Peter Wallace and JD Muller did well to consolidate Coleraine's progress for the next five overs before Wallace was well caught on the deep extra cover boundary off the bowling of Roy Millar for an excellent 50.

This brought Bernard Findlay to the crease with just enough time for the hard-hitting left hander to make is mark on the game. He clubbed Gregory McDaid for two towering sixes in one over and then took 17 off the penultimate over to power Coleraine over the 250 mark.

Although McDaid came back well and conceded just two off his final over, the damage had already been done and Findlay's whirlwind knock of 33 not out helped to end the Coleraine innings on a high.

Crindle's reply could not have got off to a worse start as clearly pumped-up Alistair Handforth proved unplayable with the new ball. Nile Painter was the first wicket to fall as he top-edged a cut shot and gave Peter Wallace the simplest of catches at orthodox point.

The very next ball Handforth then trapped Andrew Blackburn in front and the umpire had no hesitation in raising the finger. This brought Gregory McDaid to the crease and Coleraine were in no doubt that his was the prize wicket.

Initially, however it was Aaron Doey who proved the greatest threat as he clubbed two massive sixes over long on off the bowling of Andrew Douglas. The young bowler stuck to guns however and continued to pitch the ball up on a good length and got his reward two balls later when Doey again tried to drag one across to leg and found Peter Wallace who took a much more difficult catch at mid-wicket.

Crindle's misery was compounded when Philip Blair was adjudged LBW off the bowling off Andrew Douglas much to the annoyance of the batsman who felt he got an inside edge onto the pad. He had no choice but to go however as the umpires insisted that bat was only involved after the ball had struck the pad.

Alistair Handforth really bent his back in his final over and got just reward for his efforts with the final delivery of his spell when he produced a gem of a yorker to clean bowl Jamie Doey for five.

While Gregory McDaid was still at the crease Crindle were always in with a shout, however, and the former Limavady-player's class was evident in the sixth wicket partnership of 38 he put on with Jack Painter who did not contribute a single run.

The Crindle youngster was resolute in defence but the ease with which McDaid managed to manipulate the strike was nothing short of extraordinary. However, when Painter was eventually bowled by JD Muller with the score on 91 it was clear that McDaid was running out of partners.

He smashed two sixes in an over off Nigel Barr in an attempt to force the issue but the wily Barr got his revenge in his next over when McDaid came down the wicket and miscued a lofted drive to Jonny Elder who made up a lot of ground at long on and held onto a high-pressure catch.

Inevitably Crindle's belief seemed to falter with their captain's dismissal and Nigel Barr took no time at all to knock over the tail as the last three wickets fell for just eleven runs.

Roy Miller was the last wicket to fall caught behind by Clive Edgar off the bowling of Nigel Barr who propelled his side into the final much to the delight of a sizeable home crowd. While all the bowlers played their part, Alistair Handforth's 3-16 with the new ball was undoubtedly the key to Coleraine's success.

The side, who remain unbeaten this season, can now look forward to a show case final against Bready in a two innings match that is scheduled for Donemana on the 23rd and 24th of July.

After the game an exuberant Nigel Barr said: "I think we got our tactics spot on today. All of the batsmen stepped up and showed what they are capable of and when you put the runs on the board the team batting second will always feel the pressure.

"I have always said that winning the league is my first priority but it is always nice to get to a cup final and with the form that we are in I am confident that we can go up to Donemana and win."