Johnny Morton

Hannah Grieve produced a magnificent 109* as Lurgan knocked out defending Gallagher Women's Challenge Cup champions Waringstown in the quarter-finals at The Lawn.

In what was always likely to be tie of the round with the 2017 and 2018 victors coming up against last year's winners, the visitors batted first and posted 170-4 with Grieve leading the way.

Waringstown started superbly with captain Charlotte Lyons picking up a wicket with the very first ball of the game before Lurgan found themselves 7-2 inside two overs.

That brought Grieve to the crease alongside Sophie Hinds (23) and the pair attacked despite the situation and reached a fifty partnership within 34 balls.

Their stand was worth 68 by the time Rebekah Evans trapped Hinds lbw and although Suzie McCollum (7) followed shortly after, Grieve continued to march on and went to a half-century from just 28 balls.

With two balls left in the innings, Grieve brought up a magnificent century from 56 deliveries to help put her side in the driving seat at the halfway stage.

Just like Lurgan, Waringstown lost two early wickets and were sitting at 26-2 after five overs, but Abbie Harrison (41) and Cunningham (21*) shared an impressive fifth-wicket partnership as they attempted to drive their side towards the target.

Waringstown finished on 141-5 – 29 runs short of victory – with Sam Todd (2-16) and McCollum (2-36) starring for Lurgan with the ball.

The runs were also flowing at Seapark as North Down recorded a 93-run victory over Holywood.
Batting first, North Down finished their 20 overs on 164-5 with Amy Benson (48) and Staci Maxwell (41) helping their side reach what proved to be an unassailable target.

Holywood, who play in Section One and reached the Gallagher Women's Challenge Plate final earlier this season, ended on 71-4 and Maxwell was named Player of the Match.

The other two quarter-finals (CSNI vs Muckamore II and Carrickfergus vs Muckamore) were postponed and will be rearranged for a later date.

Gallagher Women's Challenge Cup