Village Seconds squeak through in Junior Cup

They are through to the Goldlbatt McGuigan Junior Cup final for the second successive year, but only after a remarkable one-wicket win over Dunmurry at The Lawn on Saturday.

The villagers appeared to be cruising towards a routine victory when the Section Two club slumped to 103 all out in fine batting conditions.

Dunmurry had been in a decent position on 70 for three, but once Alan Harrison bowled top scorer Mark Coburn for 47, they collapsed in spectacular fashion, losing their last seven wickets for 33 runs to finish 103 all out in just 34.2 overs.

All the Waringstown bowlers got in on the act, with Jason Stokes claiming four for 35, Josh Hall taking two for 21 and Johnny Nation two for seven off seven overs.

If Waringstown thought they were going to stroll to victory they were mistaken. Paddy Allen, promoted from the third eleven to open the batting, was dismissed for a duck and when Ian Morrison, the most consistent batsman this season, was run out without scoring, the alarm bells should have been ringing.

However, the procession continued as Paddy Currie and David Dawson both went cheaply.

Alan Waite, the veteran, briefly rallied with a patient 11, but when the eighth wicket fell, Waringstown were a long way from victory, and their hopes of making the final apparently in tatters.

However, Stokes started the recovery, smashing four boundaries in a single over, and in partnership with Harrison, he started to claw back the deficit.

But when Stokes was caught for 18, Waringstown were 74 for nine and 30 runs short of Dunmurry.

Drawing on the inspiration of a famous last-wicket partnership against North Down earlier in the season, Harrison and Nation gradually reduced the target with a series of sharply taken singles.

Dunmurry probably made a mistake in dropping back the field and reducing the pressure, but both players played with remarkable nerve, and it was all the more remarkable because Harrison had also been involved in that amazing stand against North Down.

In the end the last-wicket pair added 30 runs and victory was achieved from the second ball of the 37th over, prompting wild celebrations in the home camp. Nation was unbeaten on 12 and Harrison 11.

Waringstown will meet Academy at Wallace Park on Saturday, August 7, a repeat of last year’s final which they lost narrowly.

The poor nature of Waringstown’s batting, Nation and Harrison apart, was summed up by their superb showing the following day, on the same pitch, against Woodvale.

Waringstown piled up 255 for five, with Dawson top scoring with an excellent 84. Keith Allen contributed 49 and Josh Hall 45 not out. Woodvale were dismissed for just 144 in reply, with Stokes the best bowler with three for 26.