Carrick reach T20 semi final
Carrickfergus have reached the semi-final of the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup, topping their qualifying group, after a comfortable 8 wicket victory over Lisburn at Wallace Park. Carrick will now play Group B runners-up CIYMS at The Lawn Waringstown this Sunday, starting at 11.30 am, with the final following at 3.30 pm.
In their final group match Carrick bowled winless Lisburn out for only 92 in exactly 20 overs. Anthony Martin took three wickets in the final over, and Matthew Kernohan picked up two wickets.
Michael Gilmour and Jack Burton started cautiously but soon began to increase the momentum before Burton was bowled for 14 with the score on 39. With the score just past the fifty mark, Gilmour was bowled for a breezy 30 off 28 balls. Carrick knew that to qualify on net run rate they needed to get the runs in around 13-14 overs. Jamie Holmes made sure they did, hammering an unbeaten 31 off only 18 deliveries with two sixes, as he and Alex Haggan saw their side home in 13.5 overs.
Fittis hits another 80 for Seconds
A second successive 80 plus score from young opening batsman Adam Fittis led Carrick’s unbeaten 2nd XI to another victory on Saturday, when they defeated Derriaghy II by 5 wickets at Middle Road.
The visitors batted first, and scored a competitive 171 in 38.1 overs, with Matthew Kernohan picking up 3 wickets, and Russell Stockman and Jack Burton taking two apiece.
Carrick’s prolific opening partnership of Jack Burton and Adam Fittis took eighty runs of the first 12 overs before Burton was caught at cover for 27. Carrick then lost two further quick wickets, but Fittis was still there, and he and Stephen Grant added a further 66 runs before Grant was the first of two more quick wickets to fall on 149. Fittis and Bradley Luney saw Carrick home in the 35th over without further loss. Opener Fittis batted throughout the innings for the third week in a row contributing a fine 83 runs which contained six fours and two sixes.
Fourths defeated by CSNI
On Sunday, Carrick IV entertained CSNI VI at Middle Road in a NCU Junior 8 encounter.
Skipper Glen Graham lost the toss, with CSNI showing no hesitation bowling first. The Carrick top order got off to a flying start reaching 37-1 off just 5 over. However the match swung after a stunning one-handed catch by CSNI skipper Craig, dismissing Max Burton (19). From then on some tight and accurate bowling from CSNI restricted Carrick, as they finished on 89 all out.
With a low total to defend, Carrick started well in response, with Max Burton and skipper Glen Graham bowling with accuracy, they restricted CSNI to only 31-2 off 11. CSNI skipper Alec Craig anchored the innings for his team with a solid 23, until he was removed LBW by Jack Buchanan-Rolleston late on in the game. After Craig departed, Carrick tried to keep the pressure on but M Thompson (20) , H Minford (14) and R Johnston (16*), meant CSNI VI were comfortable victors by 5 wickets.
There were plenty of positives to take from the overall performance, with some tight fielding, in particular from Bradley Luney and Ben Buchanan-Rolleston and wickets apiece for 5 of their 6 bowlers. Special mention can be made of the average age of the side, at just 15, this shows promise for the future.
