Robinson Services Premier League Round-up (13-06-2022)

With only two more rounds of fixtures before the Robinson Services Premier League is split into two groups, Lisburn are still on top after Saturday's 90-run (DLS) victory over Woodvale.

In a weekend that was disrupted due to inclement weather, Callum Atkinson's side had to fight early adversity as in-form opening duo Faiz Fazal and Jonny Waite both departed for 0, leaving the home side reeling at 3/2. David Miller (48) and Neil Whitworth (22) – Lisburn's two new recruits for the 2022 season – steadied the ship before a crucial innings from David Simpson (36) helped push Lisburn up to 174/9.

Woodvale also found themselves in trouble at the start of their reply, falling to 36/6 after yet another brilliant spell of bowling from Mark Berry (4-12) who picked up the key wickets of Harry Warke and James Hall. Berry has been on fire with the ball throughout this campaign, contributing in almost every game of Lisburn's incredible run and returned to finish off the job to help his side secure a sixth league win of the season.

Defending champions Waringstown, North Down and CIYMS are just four points adrift after all three won comfortably. Waringstown's clash with Instonians was reduced to a 22-over game and they limited the visitors to 87/3 despite a partnership of 76 between James Hunter (46no) and James Metcalfe (28).

The Villagers – who required 118 to win after DLS adjustments – lost captain Lee Nelson (8) and Adam Dennison (11) early and were sitting at 40/3 when Rory Bessell (13) was caught off the bowling of James Magee (2-19). That brought Greg Thompson (25) to the crease alongside Jamie Gibson (54no) and the experienced pair broke the back of the run chase with the latter striking seven boundaries during his 50-ball stay at the crease.

At the Cregagh Memorial Recreation Ground, an inspired bowling performance from Tom Mayes (4-24) helped set the platform for North Down's success before another half-century apiece for Aniruddha Chore (53) and Neil Brand (75) got the Comber outfit over the line. Cregagh – fresh off their first NCU win of the season against Woodvale in the LVS Twenty20 Cup – posted 196/8 as Craig Boultwood (52no) shone again while he was well supported by Jonny Moore (40) and Adam McCormick (25).

Ross Boultwood (1-28) picked up the wicket of Stuart Nelson (10) but the home side couldn't build on that as Chore and Brand put on a stand of 126, and although both were dismissed in quick succession, Alistair Shields' men got back to winning ways by a margin of seven wickets.

CIYMS had the most comprehensive victory of the afternoon as a first club century for Keith Dudgeon (113no) and yet another from run-machine Chris Dougherty (103) set up a 160-run victory over Cliftonville Academy. Those two contributions helped push a depleted CI side up to a mammoth 316/6 and although Cliftonville Academy overseas professional Dominic Hendricks (74) proved his quality, nobody was able to stay with him to build a significant partnership.

Richard Hood (20) provided some resistance in the bottom order but CIYMS eased to a routine win as the visitors were bowled out for 155.

Jacques Snyman (113) blasted a century of his own from just 61 balls to help Carrickfergus continue their winning run with a tight 12-run triumph against CSNI. The South African international smashed eight maximums and nine fours as Carrick finished on 279/7 with important contributions also coming from Craig Averill (44) and Jeremy Lawlor (36).

CSNI overseas professional Troy Johnson (103) continued his brilliant start to life in the NCU and his hundred from 70 balls helped bring the game into the final over but the Stormont side fell just short. Johnson struck eight fours and four maximums before he was run out with two balls to go with the victory sending Carrick above CSNI into sixth spot.

Elsewhere, it was a frustrating weekend for the Northern Knights as two of their three Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Festival fixtures were called off at Bready. They did manage to take the field against North West Warriors on Friday where they posted 148/7, led by James McCollum (49).With more rain falling, the Warriors equation was altered to 109 from 14 overs and former Knights all-rounder Shane Getkate (46no) ensured his former side wouldn't pick up a first Twenty20 victory of the season. His 26-ball innings included three sixes and a partnership of 80 with Stephen Doheny (35) inspired the hosts to a six-wicket win.

Robinson Services Premier League