Ryan Hunter haunts old side Brigade and leads Newbuildings to T20 Cup Final joy

Belfast Telegraph

3 days ago

The former Ireland Under-19 international top-scored with an unbeaten 66 (five fours, four sixes) as Newbuildings made 145 for four at Ardmore.
Hunter shared a third wicket stand of 72 with West Indian international Peat Salmon (44), but the pair hadn't really managed to break the shackles of the Brigade bowlers.
That all changed in the final three overs of the innings as Hunter switched into top gear, scoring the bulk of the 43 runs that came in those 18 balls.
You sensed the momentum was with Newbuildings and that increased further as Scott Macbeth edged Gregory McFaul behind in the first over of the reply.
Cameron Melly followed soon after, clearly incensed to be adjudged lbw to Hunter, and when Ifty Hussain was brilliantly caught by a diving Leeroy McKeegan, Newbuildings were rampant.
The game was held up for almost 10 minutes after Hunter damaged a hamstring, and with a Senior Cup Final on the horizon, it's clearly a concern for their chances against Donemana.
Adam McDaid and David Barr (27) rebuilt the innings with a stand of 63 before Salmon broke the partnership, quickly followed by castling Mark Hanna in a double-wicket maiden.
McDaid, though, kept connecting on his way to a top score of 57 (six fours, one six), and it wasn't until he was dismissed by Johnny Thompson (three for 19) that the result was all but confirmed.
It was fitting that Ross Hunter took the final wicket to seal a 21-run win – he will be hoping to lift at least two more before the 2025 season ends.
Meanwhile, in the NCU, holders Waringstown will meet Holywood in the Gallagher Women's Cup Final in a repeat of the 2024 decider after both recorded convincing wins in the Semi-Finals.
CSNI made 126 for nine in their 30 overs at The Lawn, with Emily Calvert top-scoring with an unbeaten 30 in an innings that never really had any momentum.
Naomi Matthews picked up three wickets, while there were two apiece for Penny Speer and Rachel Harrison in an impressive display by the bowling unit.
The chase proved a formality led by a magnificent unbeaten 75 from Abbi Harrison, who hit nine boundaries in her 55-ball innings that was enough for her to be given the Player of the Match accolade.
Harrison shared an unbroken 127-run opening partnership with Amy Caulfield (31 not out) as the 10-wicket win was achieved in the 19th over.
Holywood were also in top form as they steamrollered Lisburn to win by nine wickets in their last-four clash at Wallace Park.
The game was as good as over as the home side slipped to 15 for six with Player of the Match Erin Bond taking four wickets and Lara Maritz two.
Beth Kennedy (21) led a recovery of sorts, but Alex Atkinson claimed three wickets for just five runs, and a final total of 57 was never likely to cause Holywood any trouble.
Dutch international Madison Landsman hit an unbeaten 28 from just eight balls (two fours, three sixes) as Holywood eased to victory in just the fifth over.
The Final is set for The Lawn on Sunday, August 3, while the two are also embroiled in a title race that looks like going to the wire.