STRABANE UP AND RUNNING

The weather wreaked havoc on the weekend schedule, but Strabane did manage to get on the field and their resilience was rewarded as they beat Ardmore in a DLS affected game.

Rhys Logue and Ranjitha Liyanarachichi each took three wickets to bowl out the visitors for 106, and Kevin Gallagher’s 27 ensured the Red Caps reached their adjusted target of 61 with seven wickets in hand.

The victory moved Strabane off the bottom of the table, and all-rounder Rhys Logue hopes it’s the start of many wins for the Tyrone side.

“We haven’t had the start to the season that we were looking to have, especially with all the lads having put in the hard work over the winter,” said Logue. “Being back in the Premiership we knew it wasn’t going to be easy to hit the ground running from the get-go. However, there were still positives that we have taken from the opening games and we haven’t let the start of the season bring our heads down.

“I feel that we really deserved the win and deserved to get the game finished on Saturday against Ardmore. All the lads put in a really good shift in the first innings which put us in good stead to get the win. Ranni and John Mooney set the tone early and everyone followed them up really well - we just had to hope that the rain would blow over to let us get back out before cut-off time which was fast approaching.

“On a personal level, I haven’t started the season with the bat as well as I would have hoped. I’ve scored a few runs in the T20s so hopefully I can start to get going in the 50-over format. With being up top it’s always nice to do your job and set the platform for the lads to come in and set a good total.

“I’m happy with how I’ve been going with the ball this season so far, being able to give Kevin Gallagher the confidence that if he throws me the ball he knows I’ll do a job for the team is the main thing. With all the work the lads are putting in I’m sure we will have a good rest of the season, I think we will have a good cup run and cause a few upsets along the way.

“There is a good feel around the club with us being back up in the Premiership. We have more youth teams now which is great to see and they’ve started the season well with Ciaran Patton and Conor Graham doing really well with coaching them.”