Bell century can’t help bring cup home

Even a century from Jonny Bell was no sufficient to take the honours.

They faced very strong opposition in Academy who have a fine record in this competition over the past few seasons.

Into the bargain, the gamble of asking Academy to bat first after winning the toss totally back fired as the Academy openers were not separated until the 31st over having added 140 together and ostensibly taken the game away from Lisburn.

Lisburn skipper Graham Elliott tried everything to dislodge the New Zealand openers but had to wait until a long time before Atkins was run out by Callum Atkinson, the ball coming off his hand and onto the wicket at the bowlers end.

They had to wait only a short while for the dismissal of the eventual man of the match Halbert who scored 99 but the damage had been done.

Even Dereck Suffern with two wickets at a crucial time could not halt the process of the Academy middle order and their innings ended with the imposing total of 244 for 9 when their 50 overs were completed.

Lisburn Seconds got off to a disastrous start to their innings losing four wickets for just 8 runs and thereafter it was a case of damage limitation.

They had the right man for the occasion in Jonny Bell who even without much practice due to his hockey commitments, looked in fine form and was prepared to battle with the Lisburn middle order to keep their opponents working to the end of the innings.

Bell received good support from Graeme Browne who scored a thoughtful 31 in a stand of 70 but only a short partnership with Lisburn captain Graham Elliott more or less ended Lisburn’s resistance and when Jonny Bell had reached a superb gritty 100 and been dismissed almost immediately, Academy were home and dry by the comfortable margin of 49 runs.