The White Stick - 2024
After an enforced suspension in hostilities, due to to a combination of Covid and inclement Septembers, normal service was resumed on Saturday 21st September on the picturesque Lawn at Waringstown at high noon. It was a delight to see - once again in the NCU - a game of cricket played in traditional white attire, albeit with a pink ball.
NIACUS would like to acknowledge and thank Waringstown for making The Lawn available for the annual season ending fixture, now in its 35th year. We realise that late September is when clubs are busily engaged with 'putting squares to bed' and could well do without having an unexpected extra fixture foisted upon them. Other venues who have been equally generous over the years have included Armagh (four times), Lisburn, Laurelvale, Stormont, North Down, Saintfield and Downpatrick.
Leinster get ready for battle: Peter Searson
Back to the match - new NIACUS skipper Paul Black won the toss abd invited Leinster to bat. Despite losing a couple of early wickets Leinster racked up an impressive 219 for 8 wickets in their allotted 30 overs, built around an outstanding 100 from Rachan Potcuri off only 63 deliveries - 14 fours and 4 sixes, the final maximum taking him to his century in the grand manner. Other useful contributions came from Sarker 28, Jalamura 24, and Bala 20. All the NIACUS bowlers were put to the sword, with Foster claiming three wickets.
A good start was essential if NIACUS was to chase down this imposing target, but the top order failed to fire and by mid-innings a home win was a far off aspiration. Skipper Black led from the front with a top score of 41 and there were useful contributions from Nair 34, and Wiseman 22, but only an unbeaten 9th wicket partnership of 64 by Allen 40*, abd Shah 22* gave the final 177 for 9 scoreline some respectability. Leinster used six bowlers with five claiming wickets.
In summary, it was great to have the White Stick up and running again. There was some excellent cricket. Leinster's fielding was really good with two brilliant catches - a head high slip catch off a very fast edge by Clarke and a wonderful grab by Tawari clinging on to a skier coming over his shoulder as he was running back to the midwicket boundary. Potcuri's century was only the second to be scored in this fixture. The previous one was even more destructive with another Leinster player Graham Guthrie also scoring exactly 100 but this was in a twenty over match at Lisburn.
Leinster's Potcuri was Player of the Match, winning the Tommy Thompson Memorial Award for his century and the Champagne Moment was won by Leinster's captain Clarke for his stunning slip catch. There was a first for this competition with Eva Wilson becoming the first female to play in the White Stick for the NIACUS, following in the footsteps of Mary Waldron who played for Leinster previously. Well done to her and I hear that she has had a very promising first year as an official umpire - onwards and upwards Eva.
Peter Searson and Micky Lowe with the White Stick Trophy
...and finally, when anyone takes on the captaincy of the NIACUS team, they are not just captain on the day. Firstly they volunteer to assume the responsibility for the whole show. They coax/cajole people to play. They find a venue and sort out all the timings. They organize a match manager, umpires and scorers and our thanks go to these people who accepted. Joe Moore ex Hon. Sec of IACUS, match manager, Umpires Simon Burrowes and Alan Neill, and scorers Stella Downes C.I. President and Instonians Helen McConaghy. Lastly but not least there was the small mater of catering needing to be provided. So skipper Black persuaded/bribed his wife Annas to undertake the role. To Mr and Mrs Black thank you for making the day a success. At least you won't have to polish the White Stick Trophy every week for the next year Annas!
