Rain ruins West Indies visit to north west

Unfortunately the eagerly-anticipated Ireland v West Indies series at Bready turned into a real damp squib over the weekend with not a single ball bowled on either Thursday or Saturday due to fairly incessant rain.

There was hope that there would finally be some action yesterday evening in the third and final game, but this was such a disappointment for the North West Cricket Union, and especially the ground staff and volunteers at Bready CC, who had the venue in pristine condition for the matches.

A wide array of guests and dignitaries were gathered for the first couple of days as Cricket Ireland celebrated the first ever visit of the West Indies to Ireland; that infamous game in 1969 where the unknown Irish side bowled their world-renowned opponents out for just 25 runs at Sion Mills.

Ossie Colhoun, Tommy Harpur and Ivan Anderson were presented with replica caps by Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom while there was also a sombre moment on Saturday afternoon as guests raised a glass to Donemana CC legend Roy McBrine, who passed away on Friday morning.

There was some cricket played on Friday night with four of the six T20 semi-finals decided, while two were postponed owing to the weather and that bereavement at Donemana.

That meant that only one of the three final line-ups could be decided, as Coleraine and Fox Lodge posted semi-final wins over Ballyspallen and Killyclooney respectively.

Craig Averill top scored with 79 as the Bannsiders set their hosts a target of 187-4 at Bridge Park with cameos from David Cooke (30), Marcus Poskitt (26*), Paddy Carson (24) and Louren Steenkamp (22) helping boost the score.

Pushpender Singh (2-36) was best with the ball for 'Spallen but only Isaac Bird (35) and Stuart Kennedy (17) offered any sort of resistance in their reply.

Ossie Colhoun receives his testimonial Ireland cap from CEO Warren Deutrom.

Steenkamp bowled very well for figures of 4-10 with Rory Knox, Stephen Hutchinson and Matthew Hutchinson splitting the other six wickets equally as the home side's inning closed on 95- a 92-run success for the Section 1 side.

The Foxes will provide the opposition in the decider as they edged past Killyclooney in a low-scoring affair at Ballymagorry.

Aron Visser top scored with 34 and Timmy Dougherty added 28 as the Ballyheather Road side made 112-9 from their innings; Gayan Maneeshan doing the damage with the ball as he sent down a superb spell of 6-15.

Jamie McIntyre chipped in with 2-15 but any thoughts that Jonny Robinson's men would run away with the chase were soon erased.

Andrew Neil and Matthew Campbell claimed a couple of wickets each, and 'Clooney bowled well as a group to keep the contest alive, however 36 from Jason Milligan and 23 from Luke Hayes meant the Foxes were able to run down the target with just three wickets in hand.

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The winner of the outstanding Faughan Valley semi-final between Donemana and Newbuildings will play Brigade in the final, after they easily accounted for Eglinton at Beechgrove in the other tie.

The villagers struggled for runs as they batted first- Lakshan Gamage's 18 and 16 from Adam Lamberton was about the best of their total of 108.

The Barr boys- (Ryan 3-20) and David (3-24) were right among the wickets for the home team with Josh Wilson (2-14) finishing the job.

Adam McDaid (40*) and Mark Hanna (37*) shared an unbroken 74-run stand for the third wicket after Scott Macbeth's early 25 as Brigade recorded a straightforward win.

Andy McBrine and his uncle, Roy, who died at the weekend.

No play was possible at Bonds Glen as their Sperrin Springs semi-final against Bready was a victim of the weather.

Strabane await the winners of that one after the Red Caps accounted for St Johnston at the Park.

Michael Rankin's excellent run of form continued as he made 70 (6 sixes and a four) while Graeme McCarter added 29, allowing the Saints to post 126-3 from their 20 overs.

The home side always looked in control in reply, anchored by Subhan Shirzad's 55 and with cameos from Rhys Logue (20), Aaron Gillespie (16*) and Ranitha (16), they got home with 7 wickets and 10 deliveries to spare.