Clontarf well on course

CRICKET SENIOR CUP: DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Clontarf are well on course to make it to their eighth Lewis Hohn William Senior Cup decider of the decade after their semi-final clash against The Hills was forced into a second day, with play resuming at Milverton this evening (6.30pm).

A wet outfield delayed the start until after lunch on Saturday, but the home side got off to a flyer with Jeremy Bray and Patrick Byrne putting on a century stand for the opening wicket.

Nelson struck when Bray departed for 56 with the score on 111, while the next three wickets would fall with the score on 124 as Mike Baumgart, Byrne (39) and Max Sorensen all departed.

They never really recovered as 16-year-old Jordan Coghlan picked up four wickets for 42, while Australian professional Rod Hokin claimed three for 38 as The Hills were bowled out for 217 in the final over.

Hokin was the key man with the bat also and he will resume on 59 not out this evening after Clontarf closed on 164 for four off 41 overs on Saturday. Ireland international Alex Cusack is the other unbeaten batsman, having reached 10 when bad light stopped play, leaving them needing 54 runs off 19 overs.

If Clontarf do make the decider it will be a repeat of last year’s final after North County booked their place with a 39-run victory over Pembroke at Sydney Parade.

With the incentive of playing on their home ground next Saturday, County got plenty of big performances from their top guns, with Andre Botha (65), Conor Armstrong (51) and John Mooney (46) helping them make 251 for eight in their 60 overs.

Pembroke were well set on 95 for one, but County claimed four wickets in the space of 17 balls just before the tea interval to tear a hole in their batting order and they were eventually bowled out for 212.

Meanwhile, Niall O’Brien made a successful return from an ankle injury in Northants’ game against Australia at Northampton. After making 30 in the first innings on Saturday, the left-hander added a half-century yesterday.