Over a tricky hurdle

Ballymena are always a difficult side to beat on their home ground, but the villagers, fresh from the famous Irish Cup win at The Hills a day previously, passed the test with flying colours.

Batting first on a pitch that has improved significantly this season, Waringstown were indebted to openers Andrew Cousins and Kyle McCallan who compiled an 87-run stand for the first wicket in good time.

McCallan (36) was eventually run out after a mix-up, and that was the signal for the scoring to rather stagnate for a period, as Cousins and James Hall found scoring more difficult with spinners Michael Taylor and Carl Williams keeping things tight.

Cousins eventually departed to Williams for 69 and Hall was run out for 27, and there was a danger Waringstown wouldn't reach 200 until Lee Nelson and captain Jonathan Bushe added a quickfire stand of 35 for the fourth wicket.

Nelson continued his good form with 45 and Bushe hit 18 from 10 balls as Waringstown posted 216 for five in their 50 overs.

That total while respectable wasn't a guarantee of victory with the home side boasting an aggressive batting line-up which came perilously close to winning the league game at The Lawn earlier this season.

Bowling with a wet ball didn't help matters, but Waringstown must have thought they were on top when Carl Williams, Andy Kirkpatrick and the dangerman David Kennedy all fell in quick succession to McCallan.

At 48 for three, it was hard to see a way back for Ballymena, but professional Kaushik Aphale and captain James Kennedy added a superb stand of 59 for the fourth wicket in good time.

Waringstown were desperately unlucky not to see Aphale dismissed lbw as he was struck right back in front of his stumps, but then soon after Kennedy was the victim of a harsh lbw decision as he was hit on the pad as he advanced several yards down the pitch off Keith Morrison.

Aphale followed almost immediatley for 62, aiming an ugly heave off Morrison (3-10), and from there it was the McCallan show as Ireland's most capped player ripped through the lower order to finish with seven for 19.

Ballymena were eventually dismissed for 150 in the 45th over, leaving Waringstown winners by 66 runs.

Bushe's side face Civil Service North at The Lawn on Saturday in a re-arranged Premier League game.