HE didn't know about it at the time, of course, but Old Belvedere's pace bowler Owen Butler celebrated his selection in Ireland's squad for the ICC Trophy competition in Malaysia next March with a superb display which caused a notable hiccup in the Rush River House League promotion bid yesterday. Butler ripped the Rush innings apart on their home track, remarkably dismissing the first five batsmen in the process.
He took seven for 33 off 20 overs, 11 of which were maidens. And his figures would have been even better, were it not for the three fours which Conor Armstrong smashed in an aggressive late stand.
Conor and Cian Armstrong and John Scanlan were the only Rush batsmen to reach double figures. The dogged Scanlan and Cian also put on 38 for the eighth wicket, and at one stage helped to make a draw look possible, if just about.
Earlier, Rush had won the toss and put Old Belvedere in to bat, and a total of 184 looked modest, and eminently achievable. Glen Prouten hit a fine 69, and there were other valuable contributions from Hugh Prior with 33 and David O'Riordan with 29.
Jimmy Carthy was Rush's best bowler, with a haul of five for 49 off 21.5 overs, while Nazeer Shaukat nipped in with four for 48 off 18.
But the bowling equivalent of Twister was on its way, even as the men of Rush enjoyed their tea, between the innings.
Butler, with the first ball of his first over, had Dara Armstrong well held by Paul O'Riordan at deep fine leg, and that was to be the start of a procession. Butler, bowling at impressive pace, went on to remove Michael Donnelly, Shaukat, Darren McCann and Colm Doyle in rapid succession and, incredibly, Rush were floundering on five for 12.
After that blitz, Fintan Synott did his bit, trapping Gareth Morgan leg before, and Ronan O'Sullivan took the other two wickets cheaply. Butler had to endure the frustration of a couple of spilled catches which would have added to his haul, as well as a few umpire denied lbw appeals denied correctly, be it said.
But in the end, he had the added satisfaction of catching Carthy off O'Sullivan to bring the Rush innings to an end. Rush are still in the promotion hunt, but their final match - against The Hills - will be vital the day on which this all Final confrontation will take place will be decided tonight.
. Surrey lead the English Sunday League table after a dramatic win over Northamptonshire at the Oval, Martin Bicknell smashing a boundary with two runs needed off the final ball. Chris Lewis hit 63 off 47 balls.
