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Belfast Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Nikolai Smith reveals what the key behind Inst's rise from bottom half to treble chasers has been
That's a far cry from the struggles of 2024, and skipper Nikolai Smith has hailed the influence of their overseas professional in the upturn in their fortunes. 'It's all gone really, really well so far with so many guys in great form,' said Smith. 'We have bounced back really well from last season when we were in the bottom half of the League. 'Shane Dadswell returning as our overseas professional has made a huge difference as he is fantastic with the players. 'He's so positive and having him in the team is massive. Not only his contributions with bat and ball but the way he interacts with everyone has just given the club a massive boost. 'He adds so much and lifts everyone, making them feel two feet taller, giving them tremendous belief in their ability. 'Cade Carmichael, Neil Rock and Cian Robertson are having excellent seasons, as well as others all chipping in. Everyone has stepped up and are all doing really well for us. 'We're helped too by the fact we have such a strong second XI, and they are pushing for places and putting the first-team guys under pressure, which is helping everyone be at their best and perform. 'The key to our success this year so far has been individuals focusing on their own job and doing it well.' Despite that strong start, they haven't won anything yet, and have some huge matches coming up against Waringstown both in the Premiership and Cup Final, as well as a T20 Final next week against Cliftonville Academy. 'There are some really good teams in the League, so there are no games where you think that this will be easy. You have to be at your best every week. We are really looking forward to the Cup Finals,' continued Smith. 'They are so tough to win, and the fact that we are mostly playing away from home in the remaining matches makes it a little bit tougher, but we are in a great position. 'It won't just be Waringstown that we have to perform against as you have to beat good teams to win things, and we will be doing our best just to do that.' Instonians passed two massive tests of their trophy credentials in July with back-to-back wins over rivals Lisburn – victories that have given the Shaw's Bridge side massive belief. 'While the toss in those matches was obviously important, the guys were really up for it and played some tremendous cricket against a very good team,' he added. 'The bowling unit was superb and the batters all did their jobs. We weren't expecting to chase 180 both days, so to win comfortably just instils more confidence that we can beat any team on our day.' Smith has actually played international cricket – not for his native South Africa or indeed Ireland where he has lived for the past 12 years with his local wife and two young children, but for Italy, where his mother hails from. It's been a huge week for the Azzurri, who beat Scotland to qualify for next year's T20 World Cup. Smith played 10 times for Italy, making his debut in 2019, and scoring a century against Kenya in a 50-overs game. Was there any chance of a return for the 32-year-old all-rounder? 'It's been a fantastic achievement for them to qualify as these tournaments are always notoriously tough. It's so good for Italian cricket as a whole and will allow them to really grow the game,' he said. 'In terms of myself, I would love to play for them again, but I'm realistic enough to know they have some really fantastic players now and I didn't really perform that well when I was there. 'I'm certainly still available for selection, but if it did happen, I would have to score runs and try and nail down a spot. 'Not being in the team is down to me not really taking the chances when I had them.' Instonians are away at CIYMS in the first match of the top-six split, while Lisburn entertain Muckamore and North Down host Waringstown. In the relegation battle, Woodvale take on CSNI, while Cliftonville Academy face Templepatrick. In the North West, Newbuildings and Brigade meet twice, firstly in the League and on Sunday in their rearranged Faughan Valley Cup Final. Leaders Donemana are at struggling Strabane, Bready host bottom side Eglinton and Ardmore meet Coleraine.
Belfast Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
CSNI and Cliftonville Academy march into T20 Cup Semi-Finals
Teenagers James West and Adam Leckey were the batting heroes at Stormont with the pair sharing a second wicket stand of 92 in 12 overs as CSNI posted 174 for five. West top-scored with a 49-ball 61 that included nine boundaries, while Leckey's 50 from 38 deliveries saw him clear the ropes three times as well as striking four fours. There were also breezy cameos from Harry Dyer (21 not out) and skipper Stuart Thompson (18), while Evan Carlisle claimed two wickets for Templepatrick. Sean Davey struck two early blows in the chase, before a rain interruption meant a revised target of 134 in 14 overs. The visitors never threatened at any stage, limping to 83 for eight, with Patrick Tice top scoring with 25, professional Sandun Weerakkody making 24 and Charlie Swart 20. Leckey claimed two wickets in a fine all-round display, while there were also a brace for Davey and Finn Lutton. Cliftonville Academy had already been assured of topping the group and they signed off in style with a fourth win in succession at Woodvale. A solid batting effort saw them post 160 for five, with skipper Matthew McCord hitting a 24-ball 33, Dawood Khan a run-a-ball 32, Hayden Melly an unbeaten 26, and Jared Wilson a breezy 23. The Woodvale reply was very much all about Ruhan Pretorius, who almost single-handedly pulled off an unlikely victory. The South African hit eight fours and seven sixes in his 53-ball 91, with the last two maximums leaving 28 needed from ten balls. However, John Glass held his nerve to have Pretorius caught off a slower ball at cover to end his valiant effort. Ben Kane had earlier claimed four wickets and Varun Chopra two in a case of 'spin to win' - the final victory margin 24 runs.
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ross Adair racks up opening night century as Lisburn begin T20 Cup defence in style
The former Ulster rugby player turned Irish cricket international bludgeoned 11 fours and cleared the ropes five times in his 100 from only 53 balls as Lisburn posted 190 for 5. He shared a third wicket stand of 77 in 39 balls with skipper Neil Whitworth, who made 21, while Nigel Jones made two maximums in a breezy 24. Chris Dougherty made 48 in the chase but, after two early wickets for Ryan Macbeth, Whitworth took four scalps to kill any momentum as they closed out a 39-run win. Abhishek Raut was the night's other centurion with the former Rajasthan Royals IPL star hitting seven fours and five sixes in a 58-ball unbeaten 103 that powered Cliftonville Academy to 190 for 5 at Templepatrick. He shared a fourth wicket stand of 91 in eight overs with John Glass, who made 29, while skipper Matthew McCord hit 28 — three wickets for Evan Carlisle. Charles Swart hit five boundaries in a quickfire 51, while Mark Thompson scored 28 in the chase, but Templepatrick were never in contention falling 45 runs adrift — two wickets for Andrew Forbes. Highest scorers of the night were Waringstown, who racked up 202 for 5 at Muckamore. All the top six were in the runs with skipper Greg Thompson leading the way with an undefeated 57 from just 24 balls, that included no fewer than six sixes — three of them from the final over bowled by Sathish Suresh. Tom Mayes and Sam Topping both made 29, while James McCollum (26), Morgan Topping (24) and Daniel van der Merwe (22) all chipped in. Jason van der Merwe clubbed eight fours and four sixes as he raced to 58 in 25 balls, dominating an opening stand of 70 in five overs, but he was the first of three wickets for Ross Allen, while Thompson also claimed a trio in a 45-run victory. Three wickets for Josh Corbett and an unbeaten 48 from Steven Saul guided North Down to a six-wickets win over Woodvale. Ruhan Pretorius top scored with 39 for the Ballygomartin Road side but Saul and skipper Tyron Koen (27) ensured the victory with a fourth wicket partnership of 63 in nine overs. LAGAN VALLEY STEELS T20 CUP RESULTS At Belmont, CIYMS lost to Lisburn by 39 runs Lisburn 190/5 (20 overs; R Adair 100, N Jones 24, N Whitworth 21) CIYMS 151/9 (20 overs; C Dougherty 48, H Rolfes 29, C McCullough 20; N Whitworth 4-31, R Macbeth 2-11) At Moylena, Muckamore lost to Waringstown by 45 runs Waringstown 202/5 (20 overs; G Thompson 57*, S Topping 29, T Mayes 29, M Topping 24, J McCollum 26, D van der Merwe 22, Sathish Suresh 2-65) Muckamore 157 (17.4 overs; J van der Merwe 58, J Jackson 31, S Suresh 21, E Wilson 21; G Thompson 3-24, R Allen 3-34) At The Cloughan, Templepatrick lost to Cliftonville Academy by 45 runs Cliftonville Academy 190/5 (20 overs; A Raut 103*, J Glass 29, M McCord 28, E Carlisle 3-28) Templepatrick 145/7 (20 overs; C Swart 51, M Thompson 28; A Forbes 2-33) At The Green, North Down beat Woodvale by 6 wickets Woodvale 123/8 (20 overs, R Pretorius 39, J Corbett 3-15, P Davison 2-19) North Down 124/4 (18.3 overs; S Saul 48*, T Koen 27; M Peak 2-21)
