Amy Hunter and Bella Armstrong lead The Dragons to T20 Trophy delight
The 19-year-old shared an opening stand of 171 in 17 overs with New Zealand overseas player Armstrong, matching each other blow for blow, with the latter clearing the ropes three times and hitting 11 fours in her 85 from 54 deliveries.
The Dragons finished on an imposing 202 for four, with two wickets apiece for Irish internationals Sophie MacMahon and Ava Canning.
Gaby Lewis was, however, undaunted by the huge chase, and while she was at the crease the target looked within reach. She thumped 14 fours and a maximum in a fluent 77 from 39 balls, but none of the other batters were able to score at the required rate.
Louise Little made 26 in an opening stand of 59, while Canning bunted two over the ropes in a breezy 24, but they fell 38 adrift on 164 all out.
Arlene Kelly took three wickets, while there were two apiece for Armstrong and Orla Prendergast.
The afternoon game followed a similar script with Hunter and Armstrong adding 141 in 14 overs for the opening wicket.
Armstrong hit 17 boundaries in a rapid 90, while Hunter's 62 included 11 fours. Prendergast kept the runs flowing with a quick-fire unbeaten 25 as The Dragons finished on 191 for three.
Rebecca Stokell got the reply off to a quick start with five fours in a 13-ball 25, but was run out just after a rain break.
Leah Paul looked good in her 45 (five fours), and there was some hope as former Irish captain Laura Delany was joined by Zara Craig (18). The pair added 56 in six overs but the required rate was just too much.
Delany finished unbeaten on 60 from 47 balls (five fours), but the Dragons prevailed by 11 runs.
Meanwhile, in the NCU Women's Premiership, defending champions Waringstown are two wins away from another title after an eight-wicket win at home to Muckamore.
Two wickets apiece from Abigaile Gerken and Lucia Derby helped them restrict the Moylena side to 80 for seven — Nikki Niblock making 22.
Fiona Murray took two wickets in the chase, but a third-wicket partnership of 44 between Amy Caulfield (31 not out) and Gerken (23 not out) clinched the easy win in the 12th over.
Holywood's title ambitions suffered a major jolt when they were beaten by 10 runs (DLS) by CSNI.
The Seapark side were bundled out for just 72 with three wickets for Eva Wilson, and two apiece for Katie West and Emily Carville.
Wilson (19) then added 51 for the second wicket with skipper Jemma Gillan (21 not out) that saw CSNI ahead of the game when the match was stopped by the rain after 15 overs.
North Down's Gracie Keenan hit nine fours in an unbeaten 77, sharing a second wicket stand of 91 with Kiara Fisher (42) as the Comber side made 159 for one against Lisburn.
Gracie Wilson (51) and Lucy Andrews (36) added 92 in 13 overs but the Wallace Park side fell 13 runs adrift in another match curtailed by the weather.
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Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
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Belfast Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
The Open: Weather stops Monday play early after Rory McIlroy addresses 2019 Portrush nightmare
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Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Cosmic Year pencilled in for Goodwood outing
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