Waringstown leave it late to seal trophy delight

WARINGSTOWN won the first NCU trophy of the season yesterday with a last-over victory in a low-scoring Gallagher Women’s Challenge Cup final over Civil Service North at The Lawn.

Bowlers dominated the match — the top individual score was Rachel Harrison’s 19, daughter of Waringstown legend Garfield — and only five boundaries were scored.

The last of them proved to be decisive and came as a result of a misfield on the boundary, allowing Waringstown to reach their target with five balls to spare.

Beth Healy, from the third ball of the match, hit the only four in the CSN innings as the batters struggled against the tight bowling, four of the Waringstown attack conceding three runs an over or less, with Ireland international Cara Murray claiming the wicket of Healy and going for just 10 runs in her four overs.

But the CSN bowlers responded in kind and Nikhita Gondhia dismissed Murray with the first ball of the second over and when skipper Charlotte Lyons, who top-scored in the semi-final, followed in Gondhia’s second over, Waringstown knew it was not going to be a straightforward chase.

It was Abbi Harrison to the rescue at the death, with 15 off 11 balls ending CSN’S reign as holders.

The sponsor’s Player of the Match was Molly Mathers — she scored 15 and had the best bowling figures, taking the wickets of Rachel Thomas and Ash Healy. Gallagher Women’s Challenge Cup final The Lawn: Civil Service North 67-6 (M Mathers 2-11, C Lyons 2-12) Waringstown 68-6 (19.1 overs, A Leckey 2-10, N Gondhia 2-14). Waringstown won by four wickets.