Top seeds all safely through in NW Senior Cup

The first round of this year's Sports Hub senior cup was played in beautiful conditions across the North West on Saturday with all eight of the seeded teams making it safely through to next week's quarter-final draw.

Some of those wins were less demanding than others, with Bready enduring a real scare before they saw off Fox Lodge by just 12 runs.

In truth, the Magheramason side struggled for most of the afternoon despite winning the toss and batting first. Ian Young's men were teetering at 127-8 at one stage before a late rally from Jamie Magee (44) and a trio of cameos from 9,10 and Jack- Conor Olphert (17), Davy Scanlon (16) and Nathan McCombe (14*) helped drag them to a competitive total.

New overseas man Josh Van Heerdon was best of the top order with 38 while Aaron Heywood (3-28), Adam Walker (3-50) and Jason Milligan (2-31) were best with the ball for the home side.

The Foxes' reply was littered with falling wickets too. Milligan resisted longest to make 35, Jonny Robinson made a cavalier 25 with Charlie Simpson adding 24 and taking a nasty hit for his troubles. Aaron added 19 and Gayan Maneeshan 17, but as the winning line came into sight, Fox Lodge just hadn't enough depth to close it out.

Holders Donemana are also through although their hosts Killyclooney also put up a bold showing.

'Clooney's overseas man Aron Visser hit 10 fours and 3 sixes in his 65- sharing in a 83-run stand for the second wicket with Giles Moan (45).

Alan Colhoun brought his usual bit of swagger to proceedings with a nicely symmetrical 5 fours and 5 sixes in his 55, while Andrew Neil chipped in with 26 in a total of 246-9.

Dwayne McGerrigle fared best with the ball (3-43) before the lights went out (or the internet failed) on the reply.

The North West champions made light of the task to be fair; Raymond Curry with an impressive, unbeaten 113, Anuj Jotin 64 and Jamie Huey 40 as they cruised into the draw with 7 wickets and 20 overs to spare.

Brigade posted a bloodless 10-wicket success at home to Ballyspallen; courtesy of a five-wicket haul from Ryan Barr (5-46) and an unbeaten 85 from Iftikhar Hussain.

Isaac Bird's 38 and 33 from Kagiso Rapulana were the best of 'Spallen's 118 all out as they batted first- Barr and Jamie Millar (3-12) proving too hot to handle for the Roe Valley side.

'Ifti' and David Barr (25*) took care of things from there as the Limavady Road side showed they could be a force in the competition.

New Bready overseas player Josh Van Heerden.

Coleraine have started well this season and Rory Knox's side travelled to history-laden Sion Mills, making their first appearance in the senior cup for 11 years.

The Tyrone side remain the cup's most successful team with 29 wins in their history, but it won't be 30 this season after the Bannsiders bowled them out for 67.

Lee Finlay put in a defiant shift as he scored half of those, but Gareth Burns (5-9) and David Cooke (2-16) made sure there would be no slip-ups at the home of Irish cricket's most infamous slip-up.

Patrick Carson (30*) and Craig Averill (29*) put an early end to the day's business.

Ardmore have flown out of the traps too and they posted a 7-wicket win over their nearest neighbours Bonds Glen at the Bleachgreen.

Johnny Haslett top scored with 45 and Stephen Dunn added 33 in the visitors' total of 152; two wickets each here for Harry Zimmermann, Bobby Brolly and Junaid Ali.

The home side's reply was boosted by a very entertaining 24-ball 63 from Muhammad Edrees (3 fours and 7 sixes), while a more circumspect 36 from skipper Zimmermann and 30 from Bobby saw them safely through.

Eglinton were the day's highest scorers as Liam Doherty made 94 and Robbie Millar 93 to set them on their way at home to Burndennett.

Brigade's Iftikhar Hussain made 85 not out as his side beat Ballyspallen by 10 wickets in the cup on Saturday.

Safi claimed 4-49 and Corey Roulston 3-54 as they tried to keep some sort of check on the scoring but the villagers total of 301-9 looked far too heavy.

In fairness, Niall McDonnell (45), Rahamatullah (42), and Mark Doherty (33) kept the interest alive early on in the reply, before three wickets for Robbie Millar and two apiece for Richard Wylie, Jamie Millar and Doherty saw the total end on 199 as Eglinton progressed.

Newbuildings are through as well, with Peat Salmon once again their man-of-the moment as they beat Glendermott at the Rectory.

Alan Johnson top scored for the hosts with 44, however Salmon (5-33) and two wickets apiece for Charlie Downey and Johnny Thompson saw the Bonds Street team restricted to 124 all out.

Jason Dunn made 20 at the start of Newbuildings' reply before Peat (54*) and Ross Dougherty (30*) ended the contest with an unbroken 85-run partnership.

Last but by no means least, Strabane are also through following a 7-wicket win at home to St Johnston.

Deepak Reddy's 22 was the best of the Donegal side's 91 all out- Andrew Mullen bowling really well again to take 4-29 with Ranitha chipping in 3-19 and Rhys Logue 2-14.

Aaron Gillespie made 23* and the overseas man 20* as the Red Caps posted a comfortable success.