NEIL Rock and Shane Dadswell powered Instonians into the final of the All-Ireland T20 Cup as they made what looked a challenging target of 225 set by Phoenix anything but in a seven-wicket win at Shaw’s Bridge.
Irish international Neil Rock set the tone for the chase with a boundary from his first ball, dominating an opening stand of 56 in four overs with Cade Carmichael (18).
The home side then went up the gears even further as overseas professional Shane Dadswell joined Rock, with the South African clearly having revenge on his mind after he and the home side had come in for some severe punishment from the Leinster champions.
The pair bludgeoned a combined 13 sixes and fours in a match-winning second wicket partnership of 161 from only 68 balls that all but settled the contest.
Rock demonstrated his ability to score all around the wicket with a number of wristy shots, while Dadswell’s power and timing was clearly evident in a breathtaking stand between the two.
Left-hander Rock made a deserved century - a 50-ball 104, while Dadswell’s 68 came from 35 deliveries. Five of Phoenix’s overs went for 20 or more, and their star-studded attack containing three internationals was powerless to stop the onslaught as the win was sealed in the 17th over.
The result was tough on Phoenix’s Australian overseas professional Eknoor Singh who made an unbeaten 130 in the Dubliners 224 for six.
He started the 19th over on 75, taking a barely believable 55 from the last 12 balls, dishing out some severe treatment to James Lambert and Dadswell, who had the last laugh though.
“Pebbles (Neil Rock) was just sensational, batting brilliantly,” said skipper Nikolai Smith. “He put them under tremendous pressure from the start. Cade did well too and Shane Dadswell just did what he does.
“Shane was exceptional but Neil was on another level. It’s great to bounce back after Friday’s loss and we can now look forward to the final.”
Instonians will meet Cork County in the final at Stormont on August 31st after the Munster side beat NW champions Newbuildings by 64 runs at The Mardyke.
Brian Upman thumped six fours and five sixes in a top-score of 73, while there were runs too for Ben Marris (40) and Thorne Prophet (23) in an imposing total of 205 for seven.
The chase started poorly as Jason Dunn and Johnny Thompson fell cheaply, but the North-West rallied through a third wicket stand of 71 in just five overs between West Indian international Peat Salmon and Ross Dougherty (24).
Sid Joshi bowled the tenth over and a triple-wicket maiden completely altered the complexion of the contest as 86 for two became 86 for five.
Salmon continued to blast away, hitting ten sixes in a 43-ball 86, but received no support from the middle and late-order as they were bowled out for 141.
Meanwhile, Donemana regained the lead in the NW Premiership with a ten-wicket demolition of a very youthful Bready side at The Holm.
The Magheramason side struggled to 151 as Andy McBrine took four wickets, while the Dougherty brothers took a combined five – Levi three and DJ two.
Donemana had one eye on the weather as they started their pursuit, as skipper Gary McClintock clubbed nine fours and five sixes in an unbeaten 80 from 62 balls, sharing an opening partnership of 155 with Jamie Huey, who also cleared the ropes five times in his 60 not out.
In Sunday’s other game Coleraine got the better of Ardmore at the Bleachgreen as they won by 46 runs on DLS.
The Bannsiders top order did well in a solid batting effort to post 251 for nine. Scott Campbell top-scored with 59, while Louren Steenkamp hit 42 and David Cooke 37.
Harry Zimmermann’s unbeaten 50 helped Ardmore to 107 for 5 when the rains came. The win all but ensures Coleraine’s top flight status, while Ardmore, Strabane and Eglinton are all in the relegation mix.
