CIYMS and North Down out to serve up a cracker in T20 final

The NCU is set for a blockbuster weekend of action with the last round of Robinson Services Cup league fixtures taking place today before three cup finals today, writes Johnny Morton.
CIYMS captain Nigel Jones will be hoping his side can defend their crownCIYMS captain Nigel Jones will be hoping his side can defend their crown
CIYMS captain Nigel Jones will be hoping his side can defend their crown

CIYMS will be looking to defend their LVS Twenty20 Cup crown when they take on North Down at The Lawn (3pm start) in a game that was called off last weekend.

Both sides enter the contest in superb form having only lost one game apiece so far this season but their Robinson Services Cup clash was wiped out last Saturday due to bad weather.

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They have qualified for the semi-finals of the league competition but their immediate attention will be on Sunday’s encounter with a place in the All-Ireland Twenty20 Finals at stake – a tournament that CIYMS won for the first time in 2019.

Reaching finals and winning trophies has become second nature to CIYMS in recent times and captain Nigel Jones says occasions like Sunday motivate everyone.

“That’s what drives and motivates you as a club cricketer,” he said.

“I know all of the boys are the same. They want the opportunity to play in these big games.

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“From a personal point of view, I know that helps me with the stage that I’m at in my career.

“It adds that extra spice and it’ll be a cracking weekend.”

Although North Down will be without Paul Stirling due to his Vitality T20 Blast commitments with Northants in England, the Comber side still have several players performing at a high level.

The CI mentality has generally been to focus inwardly rather than take too much notice of opposition and Jones is confident that if they stick to their plans, another piece of silverware will await.

“We are always trying to focus on what we can do but looking at them, there is quality in the North Down side but as I remind the boys, there are plenty of threats in our side too,” he added.

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“We will have to be smart with some of their individuals and restrict what they can do.

“We are fairly confident that if we stick to our plans that we can come out on the right end of the result.”

North Down have reached three finals since they last lifted the trophy in 2013, losing out to CSNI in 2014 before two consecutive defeats to Waringstown in 2017 and 2018, all of which took place at The Lawn.

Captain Alistair Shields is leading a young, talented group now and he says they won’t be carrying any mental baggage with them into this final.

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“It’s one that we want to put to the back of our minds and go in with a clean slate on Sunday,” he said.

“It would be nice to get over the line. On our day, I think we are good enough to beat anyone so we will turn up, play our game and hopefully the result will take care of itself.”

Before that final, the Women’s Gallagher Challenge Cup will be decided, also at the Lawn, with defending champions CSNI coming up against Waringstown (10:30am start).

CSNI, who beat Muckamore in the 2019 final, progressed to this stage once again after defeating Lurgan by five wickets in the semi-final while Waringstown impressively chased down 137 to beat Muckamore by seven wickets.

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Waringstown captain Charlotte Lyons hit 43* in their semi-final victory and will once again play a crucial role if the Villagers are to secure their first Women’s Challenge Cup title.

They have also been boosted by the return of 19-year-old Irish international Cara Murray who is more than capable of having a big say with both bat and ball.

CSNI, led by 2019 final Player of the Match Abbi Leckey, have been on a roll in recent years, winning all eight of their Premier League matches last season on their way to being crowned champions and have kicked this season off with another triumph in their only league outing.

It is set to be a quality contest with nine players from the NCU Women’s side that was recently named for a series against Jersey involved.

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Meanwhile in the LVS Twenty20 Trophy, last year’s beaten finalists Cregagh travel to Saintfield for what is a repeat of the 2017 Shield final (12pm start).

With both sides promoted to Section One since then, they meet again up a level with Cregagh looking for some revenge after Saintfield ran out victors by seven wickets three years ago.

This will mark Cregagh’s fourth final in the shortest format in the last five years, but despite their progress and ability, they haven’t been able to get over the line in any of the deciders.

They currently sit third in the league and convincingly beat Ballymena by 10 wickets in the semi-final while Saintfield sealed their spot in a home final after getting past Derriaghy.

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It is also the final weekend in the Robinson Services Cup league phase with two semi-final spots still up for grabs.

With CIYMS and North Down already into the last four, the winner of today’s game between Waringstown and CSNI will progress while Instonians will qualify if they can beat winless Carrickfergus at Shaws Bridge.

There are many scenarios and possibilities still at play as Instonians could go through with defeat while there is a chance both Waringstown and CSNI progress if Andrew White’s men fail to win.

With the side that finishes first taking on the fourth-placed team, there is still motivation for both already qualified teams to end the regular season on top as CIYMS host Woodvale and North Down travel to Lisburn.

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The Green will hold both semi-finals next Saturday (10:30am and 2:30pm) before the two winning sides return to the same venue on the following day for the right to be crowned champions.

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