Adam Dennison stars as knockout kings Waringstown secure yet another Challenge Cup crown

Belfast Telegraph

6 days ago

There wasn't much love lost between the two teams in an ill-tempered contest that threatened to boil over at times, but as Waringstown took complete control, the fight went out of Instonians like a deflated balloon.
The Shaw's Bridge side opted to bat first but failed to post anywhere near what they would have hoped in a disappointing effort.
Their best stand of the innings was the opening one of just 38 between Ireland international Cade Carmichael (24) and Rob McKinley, ended by Morgan Topping's low catch at second slip.
Nikolai Smith and professional Shane Dadswell fell in successive balls, both to Daniel van der Merwe, and, although Neil Rock made a counter-attacking 26, 101 for three was as good as it got for 'Inst'.
Ross Allen and skipper Greg Thompson got two wickets each as Waringstown took a grip of proceedings that they never relinquished despite a battling 71 from McKinley (eight fours, one six).
There was no fairytale comeback for James Shannon, who made just four, in a final total of 189 with almost 10 overs unused.
A fired-up Instonians knew that early wickets were key if they were to have any chance, but the opening partnership of Dennison and Sam Topping blunted their attack in a stand of 60.
Robertson, the leading wicket-taker in the NCU, eventually got the breakthrough, but any hopes that this would lead to a collapse quickly evaporated.
Dennison – with two Cup Finals centuries already to his name – had eyes on a third as he and James McCollum went about chasing down their modest target.
Initially watchful, the pair accelerated as they settled to ensure the result was never in doubt, no matter what their opponents threw at them.
The pair shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 130 in 152 balls to ease to victory in the 43rd over.
Dennison didn't quite reach his century, having to settle for an unbeaten 90 (ten fours), while McCollum's 71 not out from 68 balls included seven fours and three maximums.
'It was a very enjoyable win,' said Waringstown captain Greg Thompson afterwards. 'I think we are very capable of performances like that. I thought our skills and mental discipline was top notch today and I think that was the difference.
'It was a used pitch so we weren't expecting it to be a 300 plays 250 or anything like that. At the halfway point we were confident we had enough batting to chase the runs.
'Denny (Adam Dennison) and Sam Topping showed great application to get us a 60-run start, and no better man than Prince (James McCollum) to kill any momentum they may have got from the wicket.
'I don't think Denny cared too much about not getting the hundred as he has two already. He just wanted to win as quickly as possible and have another winner's medal in his hand.
'He's certainly a big game player and he has proved that in his five Finals. We have other big game players too, Morgan Topping wasn't even needed today. We have talked a lot about our strength in depth but we've probably relied on that too much. What we did today was to make sure the set batters bat, and they certainly did that.'
Waringstown have still an outside chance of a double but would need results elsewhere to go their way.
Instonians too have much to play for, with an All-Ireland Semi-Final against Phoenix on Sunday as well as occupying pole position in the Premiership.
However, their 13-year wait for a fourth Challenge Cup goes on, with the manner of their loss bound to hurt.