North Down and Instonians fought out a pulsating tie two weeks ago at Comber that Instonians did everything except win. After 100 overs of play nothing could separate the two sides on the pitch. The tie was scheduled for last weekend but the weather intervened.
This Saturday at least we will be guaranteed a result as it is the second attempt at starting the game, a bowl out will resolve it even if the weather does not relent. Hopefully it does not come to that, much rather more of the same from the first match.
It is hard not to feel that in some ways Instonians may live to regret not finishing off the job when they had one foot in the semis and the other on North Down’s throat, as the holders do not have a habit of making the same mistake twice.
Since that game Instonians pitch as Shaw’s Bridge has been the subject of controversy with their Irish Senior Cup tie against Leinster being abandoned when the umpire ruled the wicket dangerous after just 6.3 overs. The replay will probably be at Osborne Park therefore in some ways negating any perceived home advantage.
Instonians will also not have ideal preparation in that they have to travel to Dublin on Friday to replay the game against Leinster, so North Down seem to hold the aces. Again much will depend on the form of Irish international Andrew White and James Shannon with both bat and ball, if the home side are to set up a semi final against Civil Service North.
At Belmont we will have a rerun of the 2006 final and to be honest I cannot see anything other than the same result. Waringstown simply outplayed CIYMS who were then a Section Two side in the last of the two innings finals. If this match did anything it was to confirm that the future lay in one innings games in the decider. CI was certainly not disgraced in making 194 in the first innings.
However when Waringstown replied with 303, it rendered the second innings fairly meaningless. Those who were there will doubtless recall the splendid innings of 130 played by 17 year old James Hall and the savagery at the end as Kyle McCallan, Ireland’s most capped player blasted his way to 92 not out.
Hall has now gone on to full international honours as has Gary Kidd and the trio make up a formidable backbone to the Waringstown side. Another precociously talented 17 year old joins them in the shape of Lee Nelson.
For CI much will depend on the form of their veterans, former internationals, Derek Heasley, who has been in superb form this season, Paul McCrum and the man of the match in the last round Johnny Hewitt. Who knows if Hewitt, gets after the bowling early on like last time when he brought up his first fifty out of the first 58 runs scored then we may see a close encounter, but the Waringstown attack is somewhat stronger than Dundrum’s.
Courtesy Down Democrat
