Saturday morning and it was still anyone’s game perhaps the men from Comber had a slight edge with McCallan and Hall back in the pavilion but Waringstown were still looking to press on and set a target well in excess of 200.
In the second over of the morning Simon Harrison launched into a ferocious cut off McKenna and Ryan Haire clung onto the catch at backward point. From there North Down never looked back and were superb in the field. Jonathan Bushe had been rendered almost strokeless and was trapped LBW by Dalzell for 13 off 43 balls.
Peter Hanna made a bright 34 as he mustered the tail but in the 47th over two balls put paid to any chance of reaching 200. First Neil Russell took the catch at backward point to dismiss Hanna giving Moreland his third wicket and next ball Keith Morrison was left stranded by Garfield Harrison.
No doubt North Down would have settled for a victory target of 188 and it was going to take a monumental effort in the field for Waringstown to retain the trophy. Simon Harrison made the breakthrough when Kyle McCallan caught the explosive Russell in the covers for 4. In retrospect this only served to bring Kennedy early to the party.
Ryan Haire made sure that Harrison was taken out of the attack dispatching him into the pavilion for what turned out to be the only six of the game. The pair added 61 for the second wicket. Waringstown were going to rely heavily on their spin attack, having added veteran Garfield Harrison to the side and it was James Hall who made the breakthrough.
He made one pop to Ryan Haire and the attacking opening bat could not get over the shot and Simon Stokes took the catch at backward point. Ralph Coetzee came in and was content to play a supporting role to Kennedy as they added 47 for the third wicket his contribution being 19, before becoming one of three victims for Stuart Kidd.
Peter Shields was LBW to the same bowler soon after and at123 for 4 Waringstown scented an opening. Robin Haire put paid to that as he and Kennedy again steadied the ship. Then in the 45th over with North Down now seemingly pacing themselves to victory a moment of controversy.
Kennedy having just struck Kidd for consecutive imperious boundaries appeared to play and miss at Kidd. There was an appeal for caught behind and the umpire’s finger went up, Kennedy stood apparently dumbfounded by the decision before slowly trudging off making his opinion very clear when he reached the pavilion.
An innings which surely deserved a century was cut short at 80 off 136 balls with 10 fours he received a rousing reception all round the ground, but it signalled some nervous moments in the North Down camp.
Robin Haire fell for 14 with three still required for victory and on the balcony outside the North Down dressing room the drumbeat of studs on concrete grew more frantic. By now Shields had gone inside unable to watch and we reached the 4th delivery of the last over and Marty Moreland caught hold of one, which just cleared the field. He punched the air with delight and the captain appeared leading the charge to meet him.
If this is what we can expect from a one day final, long may they continue. The TCH Down Democrat Challenge Cup will sit in Comber as the club celebrates its 150th year but what spectacle and pure drama from both sides.
Just after coming off the pitch Peter Shields reflected on what it meant:
“Emotionally I am a mess, this means so much to me and the players particularly in this special year for the club. The difference between this and a two day final, the tension, I have never played in a game where it was this close going down to the last over. This ranks up there with the best in terms of cup finals I have played in.”
With that he raced off to join the rest of the team on the balcony with North Down’s sixth victory from seven appearances in the last 8 years.
Courtesy of the Down Democrat
