Derriaghy’s winning streak comes to an end

Winning the toss was always going to be vital on a damp pitch and unfortunately for Craig Lewis he lost and it was no surprise when the hosts decided to bowl.

From the first over the ball moved about a lot and wickets began to tumble at regular intervals as batsmen bravely attempted to fend off difficult deliveries.

Lewis himself was the only batsman to make a decent score hitting 33 in his side’s all out total of 120, which lasted nearly 40 overs.

After the tea interval and as the wicket dried out bowling became more difficult and the home side openers found run scoring much easier.

Dale Mullen and Ivor Valley both hit 50 before being dismissed and although another wicket fell soon after Downpatrick got home comfortably with 10 overs and seven wickets to spare.

Derriaghy remain top of the league despite this loss but Downpatrick are now in second place having lost one game more.

This Saturday Derriaghy host bottom of the table Cliftonville at 11am.

SECOND XI

The Second XI matched the result of the firsts, losing out to their Downpatrick counterparts by five wickets.

In a game reduced to 35 overs, the home side total of 177 for five seemed very formidable but when visiting batsman Aaron Cairns launched a savage assault on the bowlers, there was only one winner.

His innings of 84 included seven sixes and inside 27 overs victory was assured. Kingsley Beckett with three for 34 was the pick of the Derriaghy bowlers while Scott Hughes took 2 for 33.

Earlier in the day Under 13 captain Reece Malone played a top innings scoring 43 not out while Travis Moorhead hit a very useful 42 and five other batsmen reached double figures.

The Seconds have two important games this weekend, both away. On Saturday they travel to Ballymena and then to Woodvale on Sunday.

THIRD XI

The Thirds confirmed their promotion from League Six on Saturday after defeating Cregagh.

With the top two being promoted, only Carrick can prevent them from winning the league outright and victory in their final two games will see them crowned as champions.

It was captain and long time stalwart Michael Fell who yet again led from the front as he scored exactly half of the 132 runs required to win.

Having won the toss Cregagh scored a very useful 131 for eight. At the top and end of the innings Ryan Stewart and Sam Cardosi bowled well, Cardosi without reward while Stewart collect 3 for 16.

Aaron Kinnin in his first game of the season got two wickets and Jonny Lynch took one for 22.

The Derriaghy chase was built around their captain who used up 27 overs to hit his 66 not out, sharing in a useful third wicket partnership of 65 with S Cardosi (15).

The Thirds travel to Ballymena this week.