CRICKET: Victory for Inst over Dalriada

Smyth opened the batting with Stephen Hutchinson putting on a sparkling opening partnership of 70 in the win against Ballymena Academy.

However the Coleraine innings was to get off to the worst possible start as Hutchinson was given out in the first over, having edged a fine delivery to the keeper. This early setback did not deter Smyth, who continued to play his natural, attacking game.

The diminutive opener showed no respect to some wayward Dalriada bowling, smashing several fours to all parts of the ground.

The Coleraine captain found great support from Ross McDowell, who played a mature and determined innings. The pair put on 31 for the second wicket, before McDowell was unlucky to fall for 14. Dillon McKitterick was the next batsman to the crease, and he continued to provide excellent support for Smyth, using his speed between the wickets to take singles and rotate the strike.

After a series of excellent shots, off the front and back foot, Smyth was eventually dismissed for 39, after top edging a ball to the keeper.

McKitterick however remained at the crease and he took on the Dalriada attack for the remaining five overs, hitting a flurry of fours to finish with a fine 27, and leave Coleraine with a score of 117-6 for their 20 overs

Coleraine opened their bowling with the Smyth and McDowell. Both bowled with excellent control and restricted Dalriada to only 10 runs of the first four overs, with Smyth taking an early wicket with a well judged in swinging delivery.

The real damage to the Dalriada batsman was caused by Stephen Hutchinson. The tall left arm medium pacer bowled a fantastic spell in the middle of the Dalriada innings, taking four wickets in a superb spell.

The accurate and hostile bowling of Hutchinson was complemented by the slow left arm bowling of Michael Evans who had three consecutive maiden overs. This excellent bowling was backed up by some superb work in the field, by McKitterick and Wisener, who saved many runs with their speed, agility and accuracy.

The opening bowling pair of Smyth and McDowell were brought back on to finish the Dalriada innings off to give Coleraine a victory by 82 runs.