Skipper leads from front against Derriaghy as Academy bounce back

Derriaghy were the visitors to Castle Grounds, where captain Matthew Palmer’s lads ran out Senior League Section 1 winners by 116 runs.

When Palmer won the toss, he opted to take first knock and his side posted a daunting 215 for 7 off their 50 overs.

Palmer led from the front with a top score of 59 not-out, with significant support from Stephen Fawcett (40) and Mark Shields (35). Fawcett and Palmer put together the best stand of the afternoon when they added 56 for the sixth wicket.

In reply, Derriaghy failed to get past the three figures mark when they were dismissed for 99 in 30.4 overs.

Josh Stinson, recruited recently from Cooke Collegians, returned the best bowling figures with 4 for 37, with support from Mitchell Atkins (2 for 17), André Halbert (2 for 24), Waqas Mohammad (1 for 18) and Mitchell Dickeson (1 for 0).

Club secretary Jack Quinn said: “The lads were determined not to let the heavy defeat by Waringstown affect them and they did the business by batting responsibly and then bowling economically.”

On Friday, Academy have a home league fixture against Donaghcloney, before Saturday’s trip to Burndennett in the first round of the National Cup.

Other fixtures: 2nd XI v Ballymena II; 3rd XI v Cooke Collegians III; CSNI V v 4th XI (Sunday).