Sides suffer Ulster Cup disappointment

Glendermott's Curtis Ross pictured in action against Drummond at the Rectory Field on Saturday. INLS2915-103KM

Three Northern Cricket Union sides progressed to the semi-finals of the O’Neills Ulster Cup on Sunday, as it was a bad day for North West clubs.

Pieter Malan scored a century as North Down recorded an emphatic win against Donemana at Comber.

The South African professional hit 11 fours and 3 sixes in his 95 balls knock - his second 50 coming in just 22 balls - as his side made 214 for 8.

Team-mates Andrew Sutherland (49) and Peter Eakin (31) playing splendid in their support roles.

Dwayne McGerrigle (4-47) and Kyle Dougherty (3-39) were best with the ball for Donemana.

In reply the Holm men lost a flurry of early wickets to splutter to 16 for 4.

Despite a brief fightback from Ricky-Lee Dougherty (33), and skipper Richard Kee (32), they fell 109 short of their target - Davidson (3-17) and Jacob Mulder (3-27) the pick of the North Down attack.

North Down were rewarded with a home tie against Waringstown, who turned in a solid display to account for Brigade at Beechgrove.

Instonians face an away day trip to Eglinton in the semi-finals next Sunday, after the North West side edged out Carrickfergus in a tense encounter.

Iftikhar Hussain (35) briefly threatened as Brigade reached 65 for 2, but a rash shot saw him stumped by Mitchell, and that sparked the loss of three wickets with no addition to the total.

Andy Britton (28*) gave Brigade a sniff of a chance, but left-armer Phil Eaglestone (4-14) blew away the tail with three wickets in an over to leave Waringstown 53 run victors.

Nikolai Smith proved the hero for four times winners Instonians as he hit an unbeaten 71 to take the Shaw’s Bridge side to 168 after CSN’s John Costain (4-21) had reduced them to 50 for 6.

Paddy Beverland top scored with 40 for CSN in reply, but they collapsed from 54 for 2 to 112 all out, with three wickets apiece for Eugene Moleon and Zac Rushe.

Instonians face an away day trip to Eglinton in the semi-finals next Sunday, after the North West side edged out Carrickfergus in a tense encounter at the villager’s ground.

Andy Millar proved the difference between the sides as he followed up his 4 for 17 with a quick-fire undefeated 35 as Eglinton recovered from 115 for 7 to pass their 164 target with no further loss of wickets.