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Belfast Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Amy Hunter and Bella Armstrong lead The Dragons to T20 Trophy delight
Irish international Hunter stroked 12 boundaries in a top score of 89 from just 58 balls in the morning win over Scorchers. 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.
Belfast Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Lisburn left flying the flag for NCU in Irish Senior Cup semi-finals
Ross Adair and Neil Whitworth were the Lisburn heroes in a tense contest at the five-times winners. Chasing 229, Adair raced out of the traps as he thumped 10 fours and six sixes in a 48-ball 85, completely dominating an opening stand of 113 in 13 overs that had Lisburn almost half way to their target. Alan Mathew's three wickets and two for Johan George had Lisburn nerves jangling at 198 for seven but, crucially for them, skipper Whitworth was still there. His cool head saw the Wallace Park side over the finishing line, making a vital unbeaten 52 (four fours, two sixes). 2022 winners CIYMS could only manage 167 at Malahide, with overseas professional Herman Rolfes top-scoring with 58 (eight fours) and Carson McCullough making 42. James Newland was the destroyer-in-chief, taking six wickets. A fourth wicket stand of 67 between Jeremy Martins (40) and Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin (28) put Malahide on top and, despite two wickets apiece for John Matchett and Carson McCullough, the Dubliners squeezed home by three wickets. Balbriggan ended Donemana's dreams with a six-wicket win at Jack Harper Park. The North West side were dealt two blows beforehand with William McClintock and David O'Sullivan both ruled out. Anuj Jotin was again in the runs as he top-scored with 61 in a Donemana total of 220 for nine, with Jamie Huey (33) and Andy McBrine (21) also in the runs. Jordan and Matthew Hollard shared a combined five wickets. The reply was a cagey one initially with Donemana taking early wickets, but Cameron Rowe and Chris De Freitas shared a match-defining fourth wicket stand of 99 in 18 overs to put the hosts firmly in control. Rowe hit nine fours and three maximums in a top-score of 78, while De Freitas (71 not out) added a further 65 for the fifth wicket with Farooq Nasr (37) as Balbriggan eased to victory in the 44th over. Favourites Pembroke were beaten at Clontarf, for whom Seamus Lynch scored a century and Cillian McDonnell claimed a hat-trick. Carrickfergus won a real nail-biter in the National Cup, holding their nerve to clinch a one-run win at Adamstown. Atish Varape hit an unbeaten 112 adding 159 with Prince Sharma (45) in their total of 234 for three. They needed them all as Richard Hood kept his cool in a tense final over that went down to the last ball. Ballyspallen are in the hat after a seven-wicket win at Terenure. South African Test player Eddie Moore showed his quality as he made 142 from just 97 balls (13 fours, 10 sixes) to make light work of a 242 target. Moore shared a third wicket stand of 187 with Graham Kennedy (61 not out), with the Ireland A international earlier having claimed four wickets in the Terenure innings. Glendermott made the long trek to Kerry but lost by 56 runs, despite five wickets for Ben Mills and 41 from skipper Alan Johnson. Meanwhile, in the NCU Women's Premiership, North Down shocked leaders Holywood, beating them by five runs. Rebecca Webster hit an unbeaten 58 for the Comber side, while four wickets for Gracie Keenan sealed the victory. Waringstown are the new leaders after a 56-run win at home to CSNI. Charlotte Lyons made 54 and Abigale Gerken an unbeaten 31 in a total of 151 for three. Naomi Matthews then took four wickets to seal the win. In the North West, Strabane beat Bonds Glen to win the Sperrin Springs Cup. Mark McNulty's unbeaten 25 and three wickets for Andrew Mullen were the highlights of the 38-run win for the Tyrone side.
Belfast Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Amy Hunter helps Dragons roar past Typhoons in opening game of Super 20 Trophy defence
The 19-year-old followed up her midweek 155 with an unbeaten 94, as her side recovered from a precarious six for two to post 138 in a game reduced to 15 overs a side. Irish international Hunter hit 14 fours and a six in her 53-ball knock, sharing an unbroken third wicket stand of 132 with Waringstown's Abbi Harrison, who scored 31 not out. Alana Dalzell, playing on her home ground. picked up two wickets at the start of the chase to reduce the Typhoons to 24 for three, but they rallied thanks to an unbeaten 57 (six fours, two sixes) from former Irish captain Laura Delany. The required rate, however, just proved too much despite Delany's 68-run partnership with Leah Paul (31). It didn't get any better for the Typhoons in the afternoon game as they were trounced by the Scorchers. Delany (30) was again their top-scorer, but a total of 118 for seven looked light at the halfway juncture and so it proved. Gaby Lewis clubbed four fours and two maximums in a 14-ball 33, sharing an opening stand of 59 with Louise Little (32) that had them halfway to their modest target inside five overs. Eimear Richardson (28 not out) continued the carnage as the eight-wicket win was achieved with almost eight overs to spare. Just one match survived in the NCU Women's Premiership, as North Down joined CSNI in third place after a narrow 18-run win. Rebecca Nield hit four boundaries in a top score of 42 as North Down made 114 for six — two wickets for Holly Faulkner. Eva Wilson thumped four boundaries in a run-a-ball 30 to take the Stormont side to 61 for one before the wheels came off, losing the last nine wickets for 35 to be 96 all out — two wickets apiece for Gracie and Evey Keenan. Meanwhile, in the North-West, Coleraine moved top of the Premiership with a remarkable chase at Brigade. Scott Macbeth hit seven sixes in a top-score of 88, adding 116 in 13 overs with Iftikhar Hussain (86) to set what seemed a formidable target of 292 in a match reduced to 45 overs. All seemed set for a comfortable Brigade win as Macbeth's three wickets left the Bannsiders on 83 for four, before the game was turned on its head. Former Brigade player David Cooke and Marcus Poskitt both made centuries in a superb fifth wicket stand of 210 to seal the win with 15 balls to spare. Poskitt made 111 from just 97 balls (11 fours, six sixes), while Cooke reached his landmark hundred with his tenth four.
Belfast Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Orla Prendergast takes centre stage to help Dragons roar home over Scorchers
The Irish international hit 13 boundaries in her 116, sharing a third wicket stand of 119 with Amy Hunter after Ava Canning had struck twice in the opening over. Hunter hit eight fours in a stylish 62, while Arlene Kelly was also in the runs, making 41 as she and Prendergast added a further 107 for the fourth wicket. Cara Murray chipped in with an even-time 26 in a final total of 284 for seven. Gaby Lewis was clearly the leading threat to the Dragons' hopes, with the Ireland captain racing to 91 out of the first 120 scored before she fell to Bready all-rounder Alana Dalzell, who claimed four wickets in a fine display of swing bowling. Sophie MacMahon hit a valiant 42, but the result was never in doubt. Meanwhile, in the NCU Women's Premiership, Holywood beat Waringstown in the top-of-the-table clash. The Lawn side were in early trouble with star players Amy Caulfield and Charlotte Lyons both back in the pavilion, but they were steadied by a third wicket partnership of 78 between Naomi Matthews, who made an unbeaten 40, and Samantha Bond (28). Tamsin Hope took three wickets, and a final total of 103 for five looked below par. That indeed proved to be the case as Lara Maritz hit six fours in a top score of 46, sharing an opening stand of 65 with Eva Cupitt (20), while Madison Landsman (22 not out) was also in the runs in an eight-wicket win. CSNI are in third place after a 50-run (DLS) win over Lisburn. Skipper Jemma Gillan was once again in the runs, hitting six boundaries in her 43-ball 55. She and Sarah Rountree (28) put on 83 for the second wicket that saw the Stormont side post 148 for three. Lisburn's reply never really got going despite 24 for Amelia Hughes. They were struggling on 47 for six in the 13th over when rain brought a premature end to proceedings. CSNI's bowling unit did well with two wickets apiece for Vanessa Minford, Eva Wilson and Emily Carville. The bowlers were also on top at North Down where Evey Keenan claimed five wickets for just eight runs as Muckamore were bowled out for 60. Kiara Fisher (31) and Gracie Keenan (26) shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 62 to seal a comprehensive nine-wicket win.
Belfast Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Amy Hunter takes centre stage with fine century as Dragons storm past Typhoons
The Belfast teenager was at her inventive best, displaying her full repertoire of shots in a wonderful 106 from 96 balls that included 10 boundaries. Hunter shared a third wicket stand of 102 in 18 overs with fellow international Arlene Kelly – who hit five fours in a breezy 41 – and a further 82 for the fifth wicket with Bready all-rounder Alana Dalzell (33) in a Dragons total of 233 for six in 39 overs. Further rain meant the target was adjusted twice, leaving the visitors a challenging 198 in 26 overs. Former Ireland captain Laura Delany top-scored with 48 in the chase, while there were runs too for opener Annabel Squires (46) and Leah Paul (22). However, the required rate kept climbing, and two wickets for New Zealander Bella Armstrong ensured the Typhoons fell 19 runs short. The win takes the predominantly Ulster-based Dragons to the top of the table ahead of the Scorchers and Typhoons, who meet next up in Co Wicklow. Meanwhile, in the NCU Women's Premiership, Holywood remain unbeaten after a 65-run DLS victory against CSNI at Seapark. Lara Maritz made it two centuries in seven days as the currently out-of-favour Irish international sent yet another message to the selectors with a brilliant unbeaten 101 from just 68 deliveries – 17 fours and one maximum. She dominated a third wicket partnership of 124 in just 10 overs with Erin Bond (23no) as the Seapark side racked up 192 in 20 overs. CSNI were never in contention, struggling to 74 for five in 15 overs – captain Jemma Gillan top-scoring with 20 – before heavy rain forced the players from the field. Alexandra Atkinson with two wickets was the pick of the Holywood attack. Waringstown are top after they made it four wins from four with a thumping 174-run victory against Muckamore. Amy Caulfield (33) and Sophie Hinds (29) shared an opening stand of 71 to lay the perfect platform for Charlotte Lyons and Abigaile Gerken. The pair scored half-centuries in a third wicket stand of 119 in 11.2 overs to take them to a daunting 200 for three. Penny Speer then took four wickets as Muckamore were rolled over for just 26 – two wickets apiece for Lyons and Naomi Matthews. There was no play in the Lisburn versus North Down game scheduled for Wallace Park.
