CRICKET: The final match in the Inter Regional Challenge 2002, between the Southern XI and the NCU XI at Castle Avenue over the weekend ended in a sterile draw. This was "real" cricket, designed for the purists, who saw over 205 overs bowled during the game. Karl Johnston reports

The Southern XI had taken the title before the match began, but draw or no draw, under excellent captaincy by Jason Molins, they certainly underlined their superiority. Molins top-scored with a patient 107 on Saturday, hit off 155 balls and including 11 fours, and there were other fine batting performances from Niall O'Brien (49 runs, 78 balls, eight boundaries) and Peter Davy (47 runs, 79 deliveries, six fours).

When Jason Molins declared at 260 for 6, the NCU were shot out for 81 runs off 40.3 overs, the only batsman to reach double figures being their skipper Kyle McCallan, who hit 22 off 49 balls, including three fours. Richard Hastie was the Southern XI's most successful bowler, with 3 for 8 off eight overs, while Greg Molins did well, with 3 for 22 off 13 overs.

Naturally, Jason Molins obliged the NCU XI to follow-on, and at close of play they were 12 for no wicket, and went on to bat through yesterday, before declaring at 249 for 6, which left the Southern XI a mere 70 runs adrift, but there was no time for them to bat again. McCallan hit 83 off 161 balls with 10 fours, and there were useful contributions from Andy White with 44 and John Stevenson with 39, while Roger Whelan with 3 for 39 and Hastie with 3 for 60 bowled well for the southerners.

The game's "champagne moment" went to Niall O'Brien, Jason Molins got the man-of-the-match award, and Peter Davy was voted player of the tournament. This encounter will have helped those involved in the Ireland squad which competes in the European Championship, starting with next Friday's tough match against Scotland at Lisburn.

Yesterday, Richard McDaid (Limavady) was added to the 13-man squad as cover for Adrian McCoubrey of Ballymena, who is still bothered by muscular strain.