Northants prove too good for U19 Irish outfit after batting collapse

THE Ireland Under-19 Women’s side, captained by Waringstown’s Cara Murray, went down by 63 runs to Northamptonshire’s 1st XI in Finedon yesterday,

After restricting the hosts to 231-7 in their 50 overs — Murray with the best figures of 2-40 — Ireland collapsed to 21-4, but a 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Cliodhna O’Reardon (65) and Cliona Tucker (31) saw Ireland reach 168 before they were bowled out in the 49th over.

Ballymena II won the NCU Intermediate Cup after bowling out Donaghcloney Mill for 84 on Saturday. Jeffrey Martin was man of the match in the Braidmen’s seven wickets success.

The remaining two finals are played this weekend, with Woodvale III meeting Instonians III in the Minor (Lindsay) Cup at Dundrum, and it’s CIYMS V v BISC III in the Minor Qualifying Cup at The Green, Comber.

In the North West, the first two junior competitions were decided at the weekend. Bready II won the Qualifying One Cup at Beechgrove with Robert Spence scoring the only half century of the final, his 65 setting Eglinton, who had been bowled out for 54 in the first innings, the unlikely target of 300 to win. They were bowled out for 225, with Cameron Knight finishing with seven wickets in the match after his first innings figures of 5-10.

St Johnston II had a huge 156 runs victory in the Q2 Cup final at The Rectory after bowling out Strabane II for 143. Scott MacBeth took 3-23 in the fourth innings and, after scoring 63 in the Saints’ second innings, he was named man of the match.

Instonians took a step closer to retaining the Under-13 All-Ireland Cup after beating Pembroke by 10 runs in the semi-final. Amy Hunter top scored for the NCU side with 41 in her team’s 124-7.