Rain decimates weekend north west cricket schedule

Only three games survived the dramatic change in the weather on Saturday with Strabane claiming top billing as they won in the league for the first time this season, beating Ardmore by 7 wickets at the Park.

The Red Caps' job was made fairly comfortable first by restricting their visitors to just 106, and then, following more rain, being left with a target of 61 from 20 overs on DLS.

Sabin Babu top scored with 27 as the Bleachgreen men struggled to cope with conditions batting first; Rhys Logue picking up 3-5 and overseas player Ranitha 3-22 while TJ Boyd chipped in with 2-16.

The rain relented in good time for the hosts too; Kevin Gallagher anchoring the reply with 27 and Aaron Gillespie there at the end with 12* as they needed eleven and a bit overs to claim the points.

Coleraine had posted 159 as they batted first at Beechgrove with Louren Steenkamp making 33, Paddy Carson 30, Rory Knox 22 and Matty Smyth 20 in their total.

IN PICTURES: Highly successful 40th Anniversary Liam Ball Triathlon and Try A Try 25

Scott Macbeth was in superb form with the ball as he picked up 5-24 and David Barr added 27, but with Brigade reaching 24-0 after 4 overs in reply, the rain returned and put an early end to proceedings.

No play at all was possible in either of the other two Section 1 games between Newbuildings and Eglinton, and Bready v Donemana.

In Section 2, a Gayan Maneeshan century, and fifties from TJ Nicholl and Jonny Heywood set Fox Lodge on their way to a huge total of 364-5 at neighbouring Burndennett.

Maneeshan batted brilliantly for his unbeaten 144, sharing in a century stand with Heywood who made 55. The Sri Lankan had earlier shared an 87-run stand with Nicholl who blasted 7 fours and 5 sixes in a 24-ball 62.

Gayan Maneeshan celebrates scoring a century for Fox Lodge at Burndennett on Saturday

Luke Hayes made a breezy 37 not out and Alistair Doherty 27 as Fox Lodge added 140 runs in the last ten overs.

Conan Pollock picked up a couple of wickets for the home side, and the same player also fared best with the bat in their reply.

Pollock hit 8 fours and 3 sixes in his 81, with supporting cameos from Andy Barr (35), Mark Doherty (23) and Niall McDonnell (22), but they never looked likely to chase down the win, and were finally bowled out for 229.

Doherty (3-20), Jamie McIntyre (2-13) and Hayes (2-40) combined to seal a 135-run verdict for the Ballymagorry side.

St Johnston registered a 9-wicket win at Killyclooney courtesy of an impressive bowling spell from Michael Rankin. The all-rounder claimed figures of 5-11 with Nathan Cole adding 3-16 as 'Clooney were bowled out for just 87.

Aron Visser made an unbeaten 47 of those, before Jack Macbeth (36), Josh Hanasyde (20*) and Barry Scott (20*) helped the Saints make short work of the chase.

Boundary for Johnny Heywood as he scored a half century.

Samuel Haslett top scored with 75 with Divan Posthumus (38) and Stephen Dunn (22) helping Bonds Glen make 209 against in-form Ballyspallen.

Dylan McElhinney picked up two wickets for the Roe Valley side and Kagiso Rapulana also bagged a couple, but the rain arrived before the visitors could start their reply, and these two must also try again at another time.