...after Civil Service North clinically disposed of North Down the cup holders at Comber on Saturday.
It is perhaps a little early to call it the end of an era, North Down having appeared in 7 of the last 8 finals, winning on six occasions but Civil Service North have arrived as a force to be reckoned with. Certainly deserve their place in the final, chasing down the 254 required with nonchalant ease, winning with six overs to spare.
The large crowd were treated to a breathtaking display of batting from Gary Wilson and Regan West as the pair added 159 for the third wicket and took CSN through to face Waringstown in the decider on 15 August at The Meadow, Downpatrick.
The Stormont side will be delighted that Surrey agreed to release Wilson to play in the match but it remains to be seen if he will be available for the final.
As both he and West grew in confidence it became impossible to bowl to either and in this mood they would have taken any attack apart. By the end the pair were virtually show boating. Wilson was dismissed for 122 immediately after twice reverse sweeping Ryan Haire for four and West ended the match in the grand manner by slamming his fourth six.
Wilson’s 122 came at almost a run a ball with 16 fours and a six. Arguably Regan West played the better innings, dominating from the outset, his first 50 coming off just 35 balls. He finished on 93 not out from 72 balls faced and struck 9 fours and 4 sixes.
North Down had made the perfect start to the CSN innings, dismissing an out of touch Wayne Horwood for a single as he attempted to hook Parsons, caught by Turkington. Wilson and captain Nigel Jones added 90 for the second wicket before a mix up resulted in Jones departing run out for 27.
Looking back all this did was hasten the end for North Down as West quickly took control. The normally economical Marty Moreland’s 10 overs went for 69 runs and the one chance North Down may have had went begging when Andrew Haire misjudged the chance at deep square leg coming in and seeing the shot from Wilson go over his head for four.
Ryan Haire and Jo Montgomery both made half centuries as the holders made the perfect start. The pair added 127 for the first wicket in 26 overs. They both fell in quick succession for 57.
Haire’s knock came off 73 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes, whilst Montgomery struck 6 fours in his 80 ball stay. After they departed the home side really failed to accelerate and it was this that ultimately cost them.
Captain Peter Shields made the next best score, 36 from 41 balls with 5 fours. Both he and Robin Haire were dismissed by John Costain, returning for a second spell as they tried to force the pace, giving the bowler a three-wicket haul.
Some at the ground felt that 253, with The Green a renowned batting track was about 30 runs short of what was required to win. It is a mute point but with the form West and Wilson were in, I suspect 300 would still not have been enough.
NCU President Ian Gourley did not have that difficult a task in deciding who would receive the Down Democrat Man of the Match, a straight choice between the two CSN batsmen.
In the end there can be few complaints as Gary Wilson stepped forward to receive the award from TCH Democrat Media CEO, Kieran Moloney.
