NWCU Women's Cup 2024
Final: Bready lost to Fox Lodge by 1 wicket
Eglinton, 19 July.
Bready 111/8 (30 overs; Corinne Young 22, Kathryn Rough 19; Kacey Laird 3-22, Lucy Neely 2-9)
Fox Lodge 112/9 (29 overs; Sarah Black 35, Lucy Neely 32; Sophie Hamilton 3-13, Millie Spence 3-17, Tiara Mitchell 2-4)
Fox Lodge 112/9 (29 overs; Sarah Black 35, Lucy Neely 32; Sophie Hamilton 3-13, Millie Spence 3-17, Tiara Mitchell 2-4)
Winners Fox Lodge (CricketEurope)
Fox Lodge clinched the NW Women's Senior Cup for the 6th time in seven years with a drama filled one-wicket win over fierce rivals Bready at Eglinton. There was no indication of the tension ahead as Bready collapsed to 31 for 6 with wickets for Kacey Laird (3-22) and Lucy Neely (2-9). The Magheramason rallied with a 7th wicket stand of 41 between top-scorer Corinne Young (22) and Kathryn Rough (19). They still looked deep in trouble when Young was forced to retire hurt, followed by the dismissals of Rough and Kaylee Barnard to leave the total on just 77 with the last pair of Erin Mowbray and Tiara in the middle. The duo though gave the bowling unit something to defend as they both made unbeaten 14's in their final total of 111. Their efforts looked to be vain though as the Foxies opening pair of Sarah Black (35) and Lucy Neely (32) hit a combined 9 boundaries in a opening stand of 62. Millie Spence - fresh back from Ireland U17 duty - delivered a fiery spell as she bounced out Black, and also roughed up Devine with a barrage of short stuff, before bowling her with a fuller ball. Suddenly, 78 for 1 became 86 for 6 - three wickets for Sophie Hamilton - and it was very much game on. Slowly, but surely the Foxies edged towards the target, but two wickets for Tiara Mitchell meant the scores were level with the last pair of Elle Moore and Kerry-Anne Dinsmore in the middle. There was a missed run out chance that would have forced the game into a Super Over, before amid incredible tension - you could have heard a pin drop - Moore drove confidently through mid-on to spark a pitch invasion by a relieved and delighted Fox Lodge contingent.
Semi-final: Eglinton lost to Bready by 86 runs
Eglinton, 23 June.
Bready 248-3 (30 overs; Alana Dalzell 137*, Mansi Bhavsar 49)
Eglinton 134/8 (30 overs; Ariana McKenna 43; Kaylee Barnard 3-12, Erin Mowbray 2-18)
Eglinton 134/8 (30 overs; Ariana McKenna 43; Kaylee Barnard 3-12, Erin Mowbray 2-18)
Centurion Alana Dalzell (CricketEurope)
Alana Dalzell's brilliant unbeaten 137 propelled Bready into the Women's Senior Cup final as they beat hosts Eglinton by 86 runs. The Irish international hit 8 fours in her 100-ball innings, sharing a second wicket stand of 129 in 14 overs with Mansi Bhavsar, who made 49. Dalzell's maiden senior hundred helped the Magheramason side to an imposing 248 for 3 in their 30 overs. Ariana McKenna made 43 in the chase, but the hosts could only manage 134 for 8, with Kaylee Barnard taking 3 for 12 and Erin Mowbray 2 for 18.
Semi-final: Fox Lodge beat Strabane by 10 wickets
Ballymagorry, 23 June.
Strabane 32 (12.5 overs; Kacey Laird 5-10, Lucy Blair 2-4, Tanisha Hussain 2-11)
Fox Lodge 33-0 (3.2 overs; Lucy Neely 19*, Sarah Black 10*)
Fox Lodge 33-0 (3.2 overs; Lucy Neely 19*, Sarah Black 10*)
Kacey Laird took 5 for 10 (CricketEurope)
Fox Lodge remain on track for their 6th cup win in 7 years after a 10-wicket win over a youthful Strabane side at Ballymagorry. Kacey Laird did the damage with the seamer picking up 5 for 10 as the Red Caps were bundled out for 32 - two wickets apiece too for Lucy Blair and Tanisha Hussain. The modest target was knocked off in the 4th over with Lucy Neely (19*) and Sarah Black (10*) getting the runs. Fox Lodge will now face familiar opposition in the form of Bready in the decider at Eglinton in July.
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