Matthew hits an innings to remember

Having lost the toss, Lisburn were asked to bat in very overcast conditions, but what that was to follow certainly lit up the evening in this 20 over affair.

Matthew Lightbody and Jacob Hermon strode to the wicket and from an early stage it was clear that the pair were both in fine form and runs were being scoring freely with Lightbody hitting a number of early boundaries

In the 11th over Lightbody struck a 4 through the covers to bring up his 50 and he looked in ominous form as the Lisburn’s senior crickets who were at the clubs practice night started to take an interest in the match. Shortly after the 100 partnership Hermon who had played with great confidence was caught out for 26. This brought Ben Parker to the wicket and he started his inning with 2 quick boundaries, one of which went for 6. With six over’s remaining Lightbody had moved into the 60’s and from this stage he decided to take the attack to the ‘Cloney bowlers. He struck two enormous sixes and with a series of boundaries moved to 88 with 2 overs to bowl. Trying to keep as much of the strike as possible and with the support of the growing crowd took the game to the last over needing 5 runs for his maiden century.

With the opening bowler back on he was not able to get the first ball away but the next ball he pulled for 6 over square leg to complete his century. A remarkable innings which finished on 103 not out in a final score of 172 for 1 with Parker finishing on 18 not out in the allocated 20 overs.

Matthew left the pitch to a standing ovation and following his first maiden 50 for the senior teams this month, he is surely a star of the future. After having to suffer this on slaught in the field Donacloney’s young cricketers took to the wicket and were soon in trouble. Bryce Britton, Lisburn’s opening bowler struck early and the Cloney were in all sorts of problems as Britton took 3 wickets in his 4 overs at a cost of only 3 runs. With Lisburn starting to take control of the match, Josh Hamilton was introduced with his off spinners. He had immediate success with 3 wickets in his first over as the away team slumped to 23 for 8. No more wickets were to fall as Donacloney finished on 56, as Lisburn run out winners by 116 runs.