For Laurelvale the cup dream is over, the only Section Two side left in the competition were cruelly exposed to a savage onslaught from North Down’s Ryan Haire who made an undefeated 100 inside 20 overs.
Together with Neil Russell the pair added 124 for the first wicket in 12 overs. Haire smacked 13 fours and 5 sixes, with 50 out of the first 78 runs scored. Russell was not exactly hanging about either as his 47 came from 50 balls and David Kennedy remained unbeaten on 30.
Earlier Laurelvale had posted a respectable 177 and Charlie McCrum enjoyed his return to The Green with 74 with a six and eight boundaries. His 74 came out of 125 when he was seventh out. This was McCrum third consecutive half century in the cup this year. After electing to bat the Laurelvale cause was not helped when Bruce Topping was adjudged LBW first ball to Peter Connell.
Connell returned to blow away the Laurelvale tail and finished with 5 for 44. In between the in form Marty Moreland took 2 for 28 and Marty Dalzell 2 for 44.
TCH Down Democrat cup holders Waringstown also had a relatively easy passage into the semi-finals with an 81 run victory at Stormont over CSNI. Waringstown’s progress was slowed in mid innings by fine spells from Colin Andrews, 2 for 28 in 10 and Hammy Coulter 1 for 24 in his 10.
However it was given massive impetus at the end particularly by Gary Kidd making a rare appearance for the club as he is on the MCC groundstaff and spends most weekends at Lord’s. Kidd made 33 not out from 14 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours and added 52 in 23 balls with captain Johnny Bushe.
Bushe had anchored the Waringstown innings with a well crafted 73 not out from 81 balls containing 3 fours. All the Waringstown batsmen had reached double figures and it was a real all round team performance.
Similarly when CSNI batted five of the bowlers took wickets but it was slow left armer Kidd who got the nod for the Down Democrat Man of the Match award as he took 3 for 22 from his 10 overs. At 107 for 3 CSNI were still in the game but Kidd’s dismissal of Nigel Jones and Allan Coulter in consecutive balls was the pivotal moment, as the home side slide to 170 all out.
At Middle Road Bangor captain Mark Hutchinson won the toss and elected to field a decision he was no doubt left to regret. Barry Cooper and Andrew Cowden added 112 for the first wicket. Cowden made 53 and when he fell it was Darius van Rensburg who upped the tempo in a second wicket partnership of 116.
Van Rensburg made 72 and Cooper carried his bat throughout to finish on 107 off 139 balls with 14 fours. Batting at number four Ryan Eagleson then chipped in with a breezy 38 not out.
Chasing 279 to win Bangor needed a solid start but Gideon van Rensburg quickly put them on the back foot with two early wickets. Martin and Cowden then effectively nailed the lid down on any recovery with two wickets each to leave the visitors at 64 for 6. McCusker 31 and Adair 52 then doubled the score before Darius van Rensburg removed both to end the recovery and Carrickfergus reached the semi-final with a victory margin of 116 runs.
Courtesy of the Down Democrat
