Johnny Morton

It was runs galore in the Robinson Services Premier League on Saturday as Waringstown matched their best ever team score by posting an astonishing 420-6 at The Lawn against Carrickfergus.

In what was a clash between the league's top two, Carrick seamer Neil Gill picked up the early wicket of James McCollum (12) but it would be all downhill from there for the visitors as Adam Dennison (116) was joined in the middle by Andre Malan (153). On a scorching afternoon, the pair started to pile runs on and Dennison reached his century first – from 98 balls – before he was bowled by Jeremy Lawlor.

Dennison has struggled to hit the heights he is capable of in recent times but he remains one of the very best in the NCU and reminded everyone just what he can produce. Malan reached his landmark from 85 deliveries – his third of the season already while also hitting 99 against Woodvale in June – continuing a quite magnificent and frankly unbelievable 2021 campaign.

The South African hit 174* against CIYMS earlier this month and went big yet against Carrick, reaching 153 from 111 before he was bowled by Gill (2-55).
Waringstown's batting line-up has such depth that the quality keeps coming and Greg Thompson smashed 68 from 41 balls to help drive Waringstown up to their total of 420. There were two separate partnerships over 100 in the innings – Dennison and Malan (228) and Malan and Thompson (137) on a day the bowler's will want to forget.

Even with a monstrous score on the board, you're never quite sure what's enough when Carrick's overseas professional Jacques Snyman is around and he raced to 57 from 34 balls inside 11 overs. He was then forced to retire hurt after being struck on the elbow by a James Mitchell delivery and Carrick were ultimately bowled out for 194 – losing by a margin of 226 runs to send Waringstown four points clear at the top.

Aniruddha Chore (140*) also played a sensational innings to fire North Down to a 53-run victory over CIYMS. He helped North Down set a total of 260/7 – carrying his bat through the 50 overs – with contributions from Gayan Maneeshan (27) and Tom Mayes (22) helping to push the Comber outfit up to a winning score. Nigel Jones (98) put in yet another captain's performance and fell just two runs short of a century while Mayes picked up figures of 3-49.

CSNI also collected four points after beating Woodvale by eight wickets at Ballygomartin Road. Batting first, the hosts were bowled out for 196 inside 42 overs as six CSNI bowlers took at least one wicket. Ross Adair (2-38) was the pick of them and he then shared an opening partnership of 48 with Luke Georgeson (54*) before edging behind to Jamie Gibson off Ruhan Pretorius (1-33). Stuart Thompson (93) wasted no time in settling into his innings, striking 11 fours and four sixes during a magnificent 56-ball stay at the crease. Georgeson finished the game off alongside captain Gary Wilson to give the Stormont side a third league win of the season.

Elsewhere, Jack Dickson (84) starred for Instonians as they successfully chased Lisburn's 205-5 to win by four wickets. Faiz Fazal (69) top-scored before David Simpson (48*) and Matthew Humphreys (34*) put on 80 for the sixth-wicket while Nathan Cole picked up three wickets (3-16). Instonians were able to chase the target in 44.3 overs with Dickson being supported by cameos from James Hunter (22), Ollie Metcalfe (20) and Ben Rose (22*).

The Robinson Services Premier League continues next Saturday with the fixtures as follows: 
Carrickfergus v Instonians
North Down v Lisburn
Waringstown v CSNI
Woodvale v CIYMS

Robinson Services Premier League