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Belfast Telegraph
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Instonians thrash Cliftonville Academy to savour T20 Cup joy, while Bangor taste Trophy delight by sinking Cregagh
The win was set up by a trio of half-centuries from the top order that never allowed the CA bowling unit to settle. Irish internationals Neil Rock and Cade Carmichael (27) set the tone for the game with a 66-run opening stand inside the powerplay, ended only by a stunning catch by Alfie Wylie – a rare highlight in a slipshod display that saw four chances dropped. South African professional Shane Dadswell announced his arrival at the crease with a six over square leg, and he continued in that vein after Rock fell for an excellent 27-ball 52 (four fours, three sixes). Dadswell and the evergreen Andrew White scored all around the wicket in a third-wicket partnership of 84 in nine overs that all but settled the match. White unfurled his full repertoire of audacious sweeps and ramps on his way to a top score of 62 from 38 deliveries, while Dadswell's 31-ball 58 included six fours and three maximums. The stand was only ended by a run-out – one of three in the innings – but a total of 219 for six was always going to be a match-winning one. A brief shower meant a revised target of 184 in 16 overs, but Cliftonville Academy's reply never got going at all as Man of the Match Dadswell got three wickets in his first nine balls, including the prize scalp of Abhishek Raut. Jared Wilson (33) and Andrew Forbes (30 not out) added some respectability to the margin of defeat, but this was the most one-sided of contests. Cian Robertson picked up three wickets in a fine bowling effort, while there were two wickets apiece also for Andrew White and skipper Ben Rose. 'It was a great team performance all through the game,' said skipper Rose afterwards. 'The three guys batted really well and a total of 219 was great. 'Shane taking those three early wickets also gave us some breathing space. 'Whitey' was exceptional with both bat and ball and he continues to work hard and gets his rewards.' It's a big few weeks ahead for Rose and his team, who face Waringstown in a top-of-the-table clash followed by the Challenge Cup Final. Earlier, Bangor were also convincing winners in the T20 Trophy clash, beating Cregagh by 38 runs. Opener Sam McMillan led the way with a superb 62 (10 fours) as Bangor made a strong start batting first. Former New Zealand international Ian Butler struck three huge sixes in a nine-ball 21, well caught on the long-on boundary attempting a fourth. Australian professional Connor Brown stroked five boundaries in a breezy 30, adding 58 in seven overs with McMillan as Bangor continued to attack. There was also a late flurry as Johnny Parker and Michael Skelly added 22 from the last 10 balls in a final total of 166 for seven; Adam McCormick taking three wickets. The chase got off to a terrible start with both openers gone inside two overs. Bob Moore (37) and Jonny Moore (28) attempted to salvage the innings, but Bangor caught and fielded well and, in truth, Cregagh never threatened the target. Angus Farrell (two for 17) was the pick of the bowlers as Cregagh were restricted to 128 for seven. 'We have played some good T20 cricket now for three years with a good pattern and, hopefully, we can take that form into our League campaign for the rest of the season,' said a very happy Bangor captain Johnny Parker afterwards. 'I'm overjoyed for Sam McMillan to get runs and the Man of the Match award. It's a just reward for all the hard work he has put in as he's had a tough season finding strange ways to get out and also getting a few tough decisions. 'Our bowlers did really well, especially Angus Farrell and Will Simpson who squeezed them hardly conceding any boundaries. Angus in particular had a tremendous spell and really strangled the innings. 'It was great to have the runs on the board, and our bowling unit with pace off did superbly well.'
Belfast Telegraph
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Cliftonville Academy and Instonians book T20 Cup Final clash after impressive last-four triumphs
CIYMS collapsed in the first match from 51 for one to 100 all out to make CA strong favourites at the midway point. Ben Kane and Jared Wilson each took three wickets, while overseas professional Abhishek Raut claimed two. The chase looked like being a routine one as Raut (19) and Francis Collins (22) shared an opening stand of 43 before left-arm spinner Alex Armstrong intervened. The teenager took two wickets and also ran out Raut, deflecting a Wilson drive onto the stumps at the non-striker end. Suddenly, it was very much game on at 72 for six, but John Glass – who famously hit six sixes off the last over to win the T20 Trophy for Ballymena in 2021 – and skipper Matthew McCord held their nerve to seal a four-wicket win off the penultimate ball. 'We've targeted this competition from pre-season, and I'm just delighted we got over the line today and into the Final,' said a relieved McCord afterwards. 'Our bowling attack put in a great shift to keep them to 100, and we needed every one of those runs in the end in a tight finish. 'Abhi and Frank gave us a great start in the chase, and one of our big strengths in this format is our deep batting with 1-11 capable of clearing the ropes. 'Unfortunately, we went through most of us to get over the line today, but the closeness made it that bit sweeter too as we really had to fight for it. 'John played a brilliant knock – I had no doubts when we needed 29 off 23 that us two would see us home. 'Cliftonville Academy have never won a senior trophy since the merger, starting in Section Two in 2018, and it's been 28 years from Cliftonville's last senior trophy, so we've been very motivated to be the first group since 1997 to do that. 'The T20 Finals day is a great occasion and we can't wait to play in it.' South African professional Shane Dadswell was the match-winner as Instonians overcame CSNI in the afternoon match. He cleared the ropes six times in a top score of 64 from just 31 balls to help the Shaw's Bridge side to 158 for six, with runs too for Cian Robertson (30 not out). Matthew Foster (two for 16) was by far the pick of the Stormont side's attack. Early wickets from James Magee and Cian Robertson meant CSNI were always chasing the game. Teenager Adam Leckey gave them hope with a defiant 40, but 24 were needed from the last over. Ryan Hunter (27*) managed 15, but the task was just too much as Instonians clinched an eight-run win. Meanwhile, Bangor will meet Cregagh in the T20 Trophy decider after comfortable wins in the last-four. Favourites Carrickfergus were bundled out for just 88, with three wickets apiece for Chris Pyper and Angus Farrell. Sam McMillan's 33 sealed the seven-wicket win with five overs to spare. Meanwhile, Adam McCormick (61*) and Jonny Moore (44*) shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 90 as Cregagh chased 121 to beat Donacloney Mill by nine wickets.
