CRICKET: Seconds through to cup semi final

COLERAINE Seconds played host to Burndennet in the Intermediate C Cup on Saturday, just three weeks after their nerve-jangling one run win against the same opposition in the league.

Having won the toss, skipper Nigel Barr had no opposition in batting first. Openers Jonny Elder and Clive Edgar got the innings off to a solid start with Edgar playing second fiddle to Elder who was timing the ball excellently. Unfortunately Elder's promising innings was cut short when he was bowled off his legs by John Kelly for 20. His opening partner Edgar (19) followed shortly after and Peter Wallace joined Vishal Chopra with the score on 57 for 2.

These two batsmen set about rebuilding the innings and their 109 run partnership was crucial in setting the foundation for a big score. Both players reached their half centuries and when three wickets fell in quick succession, Burndennet would have hoped to restrict Coleraine to under 200.

However Ali Handforth had other ideas and his quickfire 34 included the shot of the day - a square cut for six which punctured a hole in the rugby scoreboard! A quickfire 10 from Andrew Douglas saw Coleraine reach 240 for 9 in their 40 overs.

In response, Coleraine knew that they needed to take early wickets and Handforth obliged with a great yorker to dismiss the dangerous Henderson. It then became the Andrew Douglas show as he ripped through the top middle order with an exceptional display of pace bowling. His unerring accuracy saw Edgar take two catches behind the stumps and he followed this up with a peach of a delivery to dismiss Jason Gallagher - the ball cutting back and clipping the top of off stump. He finished with figures of 3 for 42.

At this point Burndennet were struggling at 63 for 4 and Coleraine would have hoped to wrap up the innings quite quickly. However a combination of sensible batting by John McCormack and James Divine and poor fielding by the Coleraine outfielders brought Burndennet back into it.

JD Muller eventually made the breakthrough when Handforth took a catch to dismiss McCormack. Skipper Nigel Barr then got in on the act and three quick wickets had Burndennet reeling again on 160 for 8. At this stage James Divine had reached his 50 and in no time he had moved onto 70 and the target was now down to 50 off 9 overs.

Barr finally got the ninth wicket when he had Ross McCay stumped to finish with figures of 4 for 40 and JD Muller wrapped up a 46-run victory when he had Kelly caught behind to give Edgar his fourth dismissal of the day.

This was another competitive match between the two sides and captain Nigel Barr was clearly delighted by the victory.

"I had every confidence in my bowlers today," he said. "Even when it looked like the game was getting away from us I always knew we could take a wicket at anytime."

Coleraine now go through to the semi-final where they are at home to Crindle on June 26.

Related topics: