Bowl out sees Donemana lifting T20 trophy in charity event

A good turnout of seven teams took part, playing 20 ball matches, giving the Club 20 name to the tournament.

The teams were made up of Club members’ families, old and young, male and female, with or without much cricketing experience.

This produced an exciting event enjoyed by both players and spectators and the tournament was finished off under floodlights, as the final was won by the Caulfield team in the last ball of the game.

The Club was delighted with the number of players of all ages and abilities who took part and extremely thankful that the weather did not interfere.

It is anticipated that this event will definitely be repeated next year, with more families encouraged to join in.

On Saturday, three members of Coleraine 1xt XI were playing for the NW Warriors at Strabane in the one day game against the Leinster Lightnings.

Scott Campbell, Rishi Chopra and Gareth Burns all played, but sadly the Leinster team was too strong for the youthful Warriors side on the day and with their victory, they claimed the Interprovincial One Day trophy for the second year running.

With the Interpro dominating NW cricket on Saturday, Sunday was to be the T20 Charity Cup Finals’ Day at Ardmore.

Coleraine, who won the Cup last season, were once again to play against Donemana, with an anticipated 4pm start time.

Unfortunately, although the earlier Eric Cooke Memorial game was completed, the rain grew heavier, making conditions very difficult for the second final.

The game did actually get started, with Donemana reaching a total of 84 for 2 after 11 overs, with two wickets for opening bowler Gareth Burns.

After that, however, the rain became very heavy and although the wicket was covered with tarpaulin, once the rain stopped and the tarpaulin was being lifted, a spillage onto the pitch meant that no further play would be possible.

With replays of so many other fixtures taking place in the remaining three weekends of the season, there was little prospect of finding a suitable date for a replay of this game, so according to the rules, a bowl out was the only option.

On this occasion, it was Donemana who hit with the first and fourth balls bowled and when Coleraine’s fourth ball missed, this sealed the victory for the Tyrone side.

Coleraine have six league games left in the Premier league, with two to be played each weekend remaining this season.

By contrast, in the first two months of the cricket season, Coleraine had only played five league games, with generally only one game scheduled per weekend, and this highlights some of the problems which the NWCU are meeting to consider before next season.

Next Saturday, Coleraine will be playing against Donemana once more, this time at Donemana’s ground, the Holm.

On Sunday they will play at Sandel Lodge against Ardmore, the first of three rearranged games, which will either be completed or will end as a “no result” in this year’s league.

In the end, it could be the weather which will determine whether this season’s Premier League reaches an exciting finish or ends with a damp squib and several unfulfilled fixtures.