This Saturday sees the delayed semi-finals of the Down Democrat Challenge Cup and the draw has thrown up two enthralling matches. It is to be hoped that the weather relents as surely no one wants to see the finalists for the NCU's showpiece competition decided on the result of a bowl out.
Pick of the ties will no doubt be the clash at Shaw's Bridge of Instonians and North Down. Instonians unbeaten after almost two months of the season have suffered a couple of wobbles of late and it will be interesting to see if they can sustain the challenge of if it is the beginning of a more permanent decline.
At the beginning of the season even when they get themselves into trouble they seemed to find a way out. In the second round they appeared down and out against Section Two side Cliftonville at 174 for 9 chasing 233 for victory. However skipper John Stevenson carried his bat for 163 not out and in a last wicket partnership of 59 number eleven Phil Clark contributed only 2.
Against Bangor again they seemed to be heading for certain defeat when they were bowled out for 76, only to turn round and bowl their opponents out for 64. Chief destroyer was professional Eugene Moleon who will not be available for the cup-tie.
The Old Boy's do however have quite a handy replacement in the shape of Irish international Andrew White who will come into the side after international duties and also off the back of winning the TCH Down Democrat Man of the Match in the comprehensive 10 wicket quarterfinal victory over Lisburn.
Since their defeat by Instonians North Down have struck a rich vein of form in their own right with several tremendous all round performances, their only set back being a defeat by old rivals Waringstown. Ryan Haire made exactly 100 not out in blistering time against Laurelvale in the quarterfinal tie and in David Kennedy have a man very much in form.
In Marty Moreland they also have the top wicket taker in the NCU and the "support" line up of Connell, Dalzell, Coetzee and McKenna is formidable.
Instonians have home advantage, but North Down have appeared in six of the last seven finals, their only "failure" being a semi-final defeat by cup holders Waringstown last year. This one is a close call perhaps the experience of the pressure matches edging it for North Down.
Cup holders Waringstown will contest the other semi-final away to Carrickfergus and will be hot favourites to return to The Meadow for this year's decider on 27 July, but Carrick are here on merit.
Andrew Cowden and Barry Cooper have been in fine form during the cup campaign and skipper former international Ryan Eagleson has made some telling contributions of his own. Cowden took 5 for 10 in the second round victory over Derriaghy and starred with both bat and ball in the quarterfinal although Cooper took the TCH Man of the Match award for his century against Bangor.
For Waringstown it will be the first cup appearance of the season for Ireland vice captain Kyle McCallan who enthralled the crowd at Downpatrick in last year's final with a dazzling display of batting in company with young James Hall.
In the second round Keith Morrison blew away Dunmurry with 7 for 18 and in the quarterfinal in was skipper Johnny Bushe who anchored the team with 73 not out. If the big guns all fire it is hard not to see Bushe and his team being back again this year to defend the trophy. Some may argue that Carrick's best chance of a final spot is a bowl out!
Courtesy of the Down Democrat
