Thumbs up for duo who play two games in one day

Brigade and St Johnston were the first teams to give a go to playing their two home matches on the same day and although the good weather was a major help, the idea really seemed to work.

Brigade started against Glendermott and once again it was Saturday’s batting hero Gareth McKeegan who was to top score for them with 37. Ryan Hunter (29) and Iftikhar Hussain (20) chipped in as well.

However a slow enough rate meant they closed on 118 all out in the end.

Jack Glenn and skipper Alan Johnson claimed 3 wickets apiece and Eden Links 2 and Links was front and centre in the reply too as Glendermott threatened a shock.

The South African opened with Gordon Montgomery and that pair took the score to 64 in 11 overs before they were separated.

You would have thought it would have been a perfect platform from which to push on but when Links went for 40, the game turned.

The spin of Jonny Robinson and Iftikhar Hussain (4-20) really stunted the visitors and Andy Britton (2-18) tidied things up late on as the Rectory side were pegged back to 102 for 6 in their 20.

Brigade may have got away with one there but there was to be no hiding place second time around.

Newbuildings professional Peat Salmon hit 9 fours and 8 sixes in his 109 and that, aided with an unbeaten 44 from Mark Hanna saw the Championship side post a huge 170 for 2 in their allotted overs.

Brigade had no answer and three wickets apiece for Salmon and Dale Culbert saw Newbuildings record a famous and thoroughly convincing 65-run win.

St Johnston also played twice and the Donegal side, although sitting bottom of the Premier League, picked up all four points on offer with a couple of solid performances.

Alan Macbeth made 41 and Ian Macbeth 31 as the Saints posted 138 against Bready in the first match.

Despite 28 from Michael Loubser the visitors rarely threatened to chase the target down - 4 wickets for Kushpal Singh and 3 for skipper Ian Macbeth as David Scanlon’s outfit were all out for 100.

Burndennett provided the opposition next and in a closer contest the visitors made 106 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Mark Pollock batted well for his 45 (4 fours) while there were three wickets apiece for Nathan Cole, David Anthony and Ian Macbeth again.

The home side started well enough in reply, Kevin Martin making 21, but got bogged down a little in the middle.

They needed a few lusty blows from Kushpal Singh in the penultimate over as they managed to make it two from two in the end with a five wicket win.