3rd XI Match Reports
Waringstown 3rd XI have made an impressive start to their league campaign in Junior four after picking up their second win last Saturday from two outings.
Following their opening day nine wicket victory at Bangor the Andrew Beattie captained 3rd XI travelled to Wallace High School to take on Lisburn’s third string on Saturday past.
Winning the toss the visitor’s skipper decided to have a bat with openers Paddy Currie and Craig Kennedy got their side off to a solid start before the later departed. Currie was joined by Paddy Allen and the pair picked up from where they left of the previous week hammering the attack to all parts of the ground.
Allen ran himself out for a quick fire 56 but Currie continued his patient innings and carried his bat for 80 not out. Ross Waite (10) and Aaron Wright (10) along with 24 extra’s got Waringstown up to an excellent 198 for 5 in their 35 overs.
After the break Greg Harrison (2-14) struck early to remove the dangerous Foster and with Stefan Hayburn (3-24) picking up three wickets in his opening spell the contest was all but over after the opening 15 overs.
Skipper Andrew Beattie (3-5) picked up the Lisburn middle order with Stuart Harrison taking the other Lisburn wicket to fall.
At 64 for 9 Waringstown should have finished the game off quickly but a 10th wicket partnership of 52 delayed the victory slightly before a Paddy Currie direct hit ended the match with Waringstown running out comfortable winners by 82 runs.
This Saturday the 3rd XI are at home to Lisburn thirds in the league and the following weekend they begin their defence of the Lindsay Minor Cup with a home tie against Dungannon seconds.
Waringstown Thirds secured a thrilling 12 – run victory to beat North Down and win the Minor Cup at Ballymena on Saturday.
The villagers were indebted to a superb 80 from just 80 balls from Andrew Gardiner after they were asked to bat first by the Comber side.
Waringstown made a flying start as Gardiner and captain Andrew Beattie added 55 in 11 overs. There was a mini-collapse in the middle overs however, as Robyn McClimond, Andrew Mitchell and Paddy Allen all fell to balls that kept low.
From a powerful position, Waringstown were wobbling on 104 for four, but Gardiner soon received some timely assistance from vice-captain Mark Fitzpatrick.
In many ways it was the most crucial Waringstown innings after Gardiner’s, as not only did Fitzpatrick bat for 10 overs, he injected pace into the run rate, the pair putting on 52 runs in that period.
When Fitzpatrick fell for 24 the tail managed to add 20 further runs in the last four overs to finish on 182 for nine off their 35 overs. The standout innings was from Gardiner, with the knock coming at exactly a run a ball and including 12 fours.
The story of the North Down innings was about excellent bowling from Gregg Harrison , who took two for seven from seven overs from one end , and some indifferent bowling from the rest of the attack but as the pressure on the rate was always there, wickets did fall at crucial times.
It was certainly frustrating for Beattie as the number of full tosses that went for boundaries always kept North Down in the hunt and they were aided by a couple of dropped catches.
From the last 10 overs, 76 runs were required and nerves were getting fraught. It was up to Mark Carpenter, James Mitchell, Allen and finally McClimond to finish the game and although there was still the odd boundary , the bowlers and fielders held their nerve to restrict North Down to 170 for nine , a victory margin of 12 runs.
Man of the Match deservedly went to Andrew Gardiner on a day when he won his third Minor Cup m edal.
“It was a great team performance with everyone playing their part, ” said skipper Beattie after receiving the trophy. “It was tough at times and they were always in with a chance but we just did enough to hold them off and deserved the victory. Thanks to all the support today from friends and family – it has made it a great occasion.”
Thirds deny fourths in Minor semi
Waringstown 3rd XI eased into the final of the Minor Cup following a 60 run win against their own club ‘ s 4th XI at the Lawn on Friday evening.
After asked to bat first last Wednesday , the thirds posted a tough target of 240 for 5 in their 35 overs. This was large down to a fine century from opener Paddy Currie (107 not out) and a Ryan Dennison (51) half century.
A rapid 39 from Andrew Mitchell put the thirds in the driving seat at the half way stage , leaving the fourths with a required scoring rate of seven runs an over .
Robyn McClimond (35) and Andrew Gardiner (27) raced the fourths off to a flying start as they brought up the 50 inside nine overs. But it was the introduction of Mark Carpenter (4-40) that brought the run rate to a halt as he had both openers dismissed and removed Sam Wilson in the space of three overs.
At 76 for three after 13 overs the heavy rain arrived and with Alan Waite and Garfield Harrison at the crease the thirds knew they would have a hard task in hand against the experience in the middle.
With the match not being able to resume until Friday after the the first eleven’s Challenge Cup triumph the thirds knew that one wicket would open up and end and they would be able to close in on victory.
Paddy Allen (2-20) made the breakthrough having Alan Waite (23) excellently caught at backward square leg by Greg Harrison just inches off the ground and in the following over Allen bowled Mark Woods.
Alan Harrison joined Garfield and it wasn’t long before Mark Carpenter had his fourth wicket when Alan Harrison skied one in the air to be well caught by wicket keeper Ben Carson.
James Mitchell and Greg Harrison also bowled well and they both picked up a wicket apiece.
The fourths lost Giles Parris retired hurt and the final wicket saw Stuart Harrison run out from a direct hit from the boundary from man of the match Paddy Currie to leave the thirds winners by 60 runs and will now meet North Down 3’s in the final at Ballymena on Saturday , August 20.
Everyone at the club would like to wish Giles Parris a speedy recovery after he suffered what turned out to be a ruptured Achilles whilst batting.
Minor Cup Semi Final result:
Waringstown 3’s: 240 for 5 from 35 over’s. P Currie 107 not out; R Dennison 51; A Mitchell 39; A Harrison 4 – 62.
Waringstown 4’s: 180 for 9 after 31.1 overs. Garfield Harrison 43 not out; R McClimond 35; A Gardiner 27; M Carpenter 4 – 40; P Allen 2 – 20.
Waringstown 3’s won by 60 runs.
On Saturday there was something of a repeat, again bowling first. This time the away team the shape of North Down were flying at 6 an over for the first ten overs. But after a time off for rain the game changed with the Waringstown attack taking nine wickets for less than 40 runs on the board. Pick of the bowling from Mark Carpenter (4-22), Robyn McClimond ((2-15) and young Sam Wilson (2-15) who bowled accurately with some clever variation in the shape of an excellent slower ball. A total of 101 never seemed like enough, but proved on a drying wicket to be difficult in the light of some excellent North Down bowling. It was only the presence and composure of Paddy Currie with a 51 not out that saw the team over the finishing line with one over to spare.
“We have had 2 wins in two matches with some excellent individual performances propelling us to that” said captain Andrew Beattie. “As a team we are only getting into our stride and there is much more to come and I feel that we can have a very successful season once again”
The thirds next game is away on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Minor Cup
Waringstown Thirds cruised into third round of the Minor Cup on Saturday with a 184 run victory against a young Saintfield Thirds on Saturday. That is not to say that it was all plain sailing with some good bowling from Saintfield and a couple of early wickets, but it was the clean hitting of Andrew Mitchell (74) and the watchfulness and then acceleration of Mark Fitzpatrick (78no) that set the tone of the innings. Other useful contributions from Paddy Currie (27) and Ben Carson (16no) helped the villagers to a very competitive total. Finishing on 247 for 6 in 35 overs was always going to be tough to get close to this and so it proved. With Kris Lyness in his very best form (4-27) and Nathan Heyburn taking two wickets, there was never really any threat to the total. Four wickets from skipper Andrew Beattie (4-5) with his occasional off breaks summed up the day with Saintfield all out for 63.
The Thirds are back in League action this week against Muckamore and are hoping to bounce back after a heavy defeat to Lisburn on the last bank holiday Monday.
Waringstown Thirds won a thrilling opening game of the season against CSNI at Stormont on Saturday by 2 wickets with only one ball to spare. Chasing 180 in 30 overs on a difficult wicket, it was the heroics of Adeel Tahir (48no) and Greg Harrison (16no) that pulled the out what looked like an impossible win. The run chase had started in a positive fashion and while captain Andrew Beattie (34) and Paddy Allen (22) were at the crease the runs were coming at the required rate. But as wickets fell the so it the rate to the point that Waringstown had only 2 wickets left with 58 runs still needed and 36 balls in which to get them with. It was this point that the fire works started with some fine hitting and pushing the ones into twos Tahir and Harrison that say the team over the line
Early on in the day the bowlers struggled with a wet ball, with only Greg Harrison (0-5) and Mark Carpenter (2-26) really testing the CSNI batting line-up. With the make up of the bowling changing considerably from last season it will take a few matches for the new line up of Stefan Heyburn, James Mitchell and Adeel Tahir to get used to the step up but there were clear signs that they are more than capable. At one stage a score of over 200 was on the cards, but Carpenter and Fitzpatrick ensured that the last 3 overs only went for 17 runs to keep CSNI to 180 for 3.
“ I am delighted with the win” said skipper Beattie after the game. “We really showed character in the lower order to pull this out and we have plenty to learn from today in all aspects of the game. The team are delighted with this and we can call on this all year to remind ourselves that we are never out of a game until it is over.”
Waringstown Thirds are away in the Cup to Dungannon II’s next Saturday.
Archive – 3rd XI match reports
Waringstown 3rds continued in their winning ways on Saturday by defeating Bangor 3rds at the Gordon Playing Fields by 7 wickets. In what eventually turned out to be a comfortable win, Waringstown won the toss and Captain Andrew Beattie decided to bowl. The opening pair of Nathan Heyburn (0-19) and Kris Lyness (1-14) continued their excellent form and along with a welcome return for Greg Harrison (0-20) kept the Bangor batsmen at bay for the first 16 overs with only 45 runs coming in this time. It was only the experience of Bangor stalwart, Howard Bingham (66) that saw any impetus into the innings by ensuring that any loose bowling was dispatched. Not that there was too much of that as the young bowlers in Aaron Kenned, Mark Thornbury and Adam Dennison all took a wicket a piece at crucial times to peg them back. Bangor finally finished on 149 for 5 from 35 overs, possibly 20 runs short from what would have been a par score, mainly due to some fine death bowling by the opening trio.
Mark Fitzpatrick, 85 no against Bangor
Waringstown’s innings got off to a fairly steady start with few risks being taken with the openers and following the similar run rate as that of Bangor’s. It was not until Mark Fitzpatrick was joined by Aaron Kennedy (27) that the acceleration began to happen. Both players, having got themselves in, proceeded to punish any loose bowling from the Bangor attack. But when the 3rd wicket fell with 60 still needed in 10 overs there was still a job to do. At this point Fitzpatrick really stepped up and took apart the now dispirited Bangor bowling. He finished the chase in only 31.1 overs with a six to complete a fine 85 not out, supported at the end by Captain Beattie (15no)
“ It was a fine win from one of the youngest 3rd Eleven teams that I have put out in my time” Said Skipper Beattie after the match. “ We gave debuts to the Carson brothers, with Ben taking the wicket keepers position and taking the vital catch of Bingham. Fitzpatrick was fantastic and is in great form this season ad I believe that we can push on from here.” Waringstown are away to Ballymena on Saturday in the League.
Dennison stars as 3rds get off to a winning start
Waringstown Thirds got off to a winning start on Saturday against North Down at the Green.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, captain Andrew Beattie and 13 year old Adam Denison took advantage of some loose bowling and move along at over 5 per over for the first 11 overs until Beattie was bowled for 23 playing an uncharacteristic slog across the line. Dennison who was looking very much at ease at the crease was joined by Fitzpatrick who also was looking set for a bit score until being run out on 18. Paddy Allen (32) continued to add to the total at a good rate with Dennison all the while building a fine innings. With Giles Parris (26 no) hitting some fine blows towards the end Waringstown finished with a daunting 210 off their 35 overs. It was of course young Adam how took the applause as he carried his bat with an unbeaten 52 that was as an accomplished an innings from a 13 year old at this level in a long time.
Requiring 6 an over from the start it was always going to be tough for North Down and although they made a go from the start, dispatching any bad balls for boundaries it was no long until Nathan Heyburn (1-24) and Kris Lyness (1-34) made the break through into their top order. Heyburn was shaping the ball very nicely and caused considerable problems for the batsmen, aided by the raw pace from Lyness the opening pair worked well for the first 12 overs. It was with the introduction of Paddy Allen and Robyn McClimond (1-10) that really ended any chance with Allen finishing an unplayable spell with 3-7 off 4 overs. The tail was wrapped up by another young duo in the guise of Sam Matthews (2-17) and Ryan Calvert (1-23), restricting North Down to 126 and completing an 84 run win
“It was a great way to start the season” said captain Beattie after the game. “Last year we had 5 straight loses at the start and ruined any hope of the league. There is no reason why we should not be challenging in both League and Cup this year. With the experienced players and some of the new talent coming along, we are looking forward to a great season.” Their next match is against Bangor at home on the 15th May.
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