Johnny Morton

CIYMS, CSNI, Instonians and North Down all booked their places in the Gallagher Challenge Cup semi-finals after winning on Sunday.

At Stormont, CSNI opener Ross Adair struck 111 from 103 balls to help his side set what turned out to be an insurmountable total of 285/7 against Derriaghy. The unbeaten Section One leaders started well against Premier League opposition by picking up the wickets of Luke Georgeson (20), Stuart Thompson (1) and Paddy Beverland (2), but Adair looked in fine touch and wasn't going to be moved. A partnership of 84 with Chris McMorran (37) helped steady the ship and a further stand of 62 with Archie Johnston (47) took the game away from Derriaghy. Adair – who showed another side to his game with a more patient innings – was caught in the 41st over but the damage had already been done.

Derriaghy's chase got off to the worst possible start after losing four wickets for just 16 runs and they were 53-8 inside 14 overs when captain Mark Stinson (24) and Dan Fuzzard (24) came together. The pair put on 54 for the ninth-wicket with an enjoyable cameo that included 10 boundaries, but when the former was bowled by Matthew Foster to give him his fifth wicket of the innings (5-63) and Fuzzard became Georgeson's fifth victim (5-40), the game was finished. Derriaghy ended on 107 to lose by 178 runs and their attention will now firmly be on the league and gaining promotion to the top-flight.

It was another centurion at Ballygomartin Road that helped defending champions CIYMS put their name in the hat for the next round as James Cameron-Dow shone against Woodvale. CIYMS were bowled out for 240 and their target was never under any real pressure as they were able to pick up wickets at regular intervals.

Chris Robinson dismissed the in-form Harry Warke and captain Nigel Jones then had his opening partner James Hall caught at cover to leave the hosts 28-3. A lot rested on Ruhan Pretorius and he moved through to a half-century but when he was run out at the non-strikers end after Cameron-Dow got a hand on a ball that was drilled back at him, it was all but over and CI won by a margin of 90 runs.

North Down are also still in the hunt for another Challenge Cup crown after an impressive nine-wicket victory over Lisburn at Wallace Park. The home side were bowled out for 155 with Ryan Haire (5-23) playing a starring role while being backed up by Peter Eakin (2-32) and Carl Robinson (2-35). Robert Rankin (58) led the way for Lisburn but their total was never going to be enough against a North Down side that are stacked full of quality, even with the absence of Paul Stirling and Craig Young.

Aniruddha Chore (69*) again led from the front and put on another substantial opening stand with captain Alistair Shields (46) before Gayan Maneeshan (34*) helped finish the job off.

Instonians have a fantastic record in this competition over the past decade and they made yet another semi-final after progressing past Cregagh by eight wickets. Cregagh posted 215 with Jay Hunter (65) continuing his fine 2021 campaign but their progress was hampered by Ben Rose (5-53).

The home side picked up the wickets of Oliver Metcalfe and Jack Dickson but James Hunter (86*) and Nikolai Smith (70*) made sure there was to be no upset.
These four teams will have a keen eye on the draw to see their opponents for the semis, which are set to be played on Sunday 1st August.

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