Lisburn won the first NCU trophy of the season yesterday, defeating hosts Waringstown in the final of the LVS T20 Cup by three wickets.
The forecast rain stayed away until the last four overs of the match but the umpires kept the teams out in the middle and Glenn Halliday pulled Josh Froggatt for the winning boundary from the second ball of the last over.
It gives Lisburn the chance of a cup treble this season with the Challenge Cup Final against Muckamore to come at Stormont on August 2 and this victory gives them a home draw in the Semi-Final of the All-Ireland T20 competition nine days later. They will play Brigade who defeated Ardmore in the North West equivalent yesterday, the Faughan Valley Cup Final.
Popular Indian professional Faiz Fazal was named man of the match at The Lawn for his 58 from 45 balls, the backbone of the Lisburn reply, but the bowlers had done the hard bit by bowling out the holders for 127.
Josh Manley struck with the first ball of the match, having Adam Dennison caught behind and opening bowling partner Ryan Macbeth followed up with the wicket of Sam Topping with his third delivery.
After that only Morgan Topping, Matthew Halliday and Lee Nelson, batting at No 7, provided any resistance with captain Neil Whitworth, the only spin bowler in the absence of Ireland Test squad member Matthew Humphreys, sticking with his pace bowlers for 15 overs.
Whitworth, already a winner with Lisburn in his first season as captain, still had time to pick up two wickets, ending the sixth wicket stand of 35 between Halliday and Nelson.
The captain found himself coming into bat to prevent a hat-trick after Bilwal Bhatti had dismissed Jonny Waite and Nigel Jones but even after ‘golden arm’ Adam Dennison had snared Fazal, with 28 required, David Miller and Glenn Halliday kept Lisburn in control.
Earlier, Lurgan won the LVS T20 Trophy with a six wickets win over Donaghcloney Mill, Jack Maxwell hitting two of the first three balls of the last over to the boundary while Stephen Chambers (48 not out) watched from the other end.
In the Premier League, Carrickfergus ended defending champions Instonians’ hopes of making it into the post-split top six with a three runs victory at Shaw’s Bridge.
Professional Ruan Haasbroek hit 77 (six fours and four sixes) for the basement side, who had won only one of their first seven games as Carrick were bowled out for 182. Two rain interruptions gave Instonians a final victory target of 155 in 39 overs and once captain CJ van der Walt bowled Neil Rock for 60, the visitors were favourites.
The other game, at the Castle Grounds was abandoned after just 26 balls, after Kerwin Mungroo slipped and fell twice in his delivery stride.
LVS T20 CUP FINAL
Waringstown 127 (19.1 overs, M Topping 40, L Nelson 27; J Manley 3-23, R Macbeth 2-18, N Whitworth 2-33) Lisburn 129-7 (19.2 overs, F Fazal 58; B Hatti 3-23). Lisburn won by 3 wickets.
NCU PREMIER LEAGUE
Shaw’s Bridge: Carrickfergus 182 (45 overs, R Haasbroek 77, M Gilmour 25, P Sharma 20; A White 3-26, J Lambert 3-39, C Robertson 2-29) Instonians 151-8 (39 overs, N Rock 60; A Haggan 2-23, A Shetty 2-24, CJ van der Walt 2-27). Carrickfergus won by 3 runs (DLS).
Castle Grounds: Cliftonville Academy 28-0 v North Down. Abandoned.
Tonight (5.30pm): Lisburn v Instonians, Muckamore v Civil Service North.