Carrick’s 2nd XI made it through to the final of the Intermediate Cup after a narrow 1 wicket victory over Instonians 3rds in their semi final at Middle Road on Saturday, despite being without a number of regular players due to holidays, and fielding a makeshift team which included 4 players who had not played this season as well the 3rd and 4th XI captains. This was a game played in the true spirit of the game by both sides.
The visitors batted first and posted a challenging 209 for 8 in their 40 overs, with skipper Alastair Burton and Adam Fittis each picking up two wickets.
Fittis and Burton were also the mainstays of the Carrick batting. Opening the innings, Fittis scored a fine 61 runs, while Burton contributed 30 in the middle order. However, the batting hero for Carrick in the end was opening bowler Robin Arbuthnot, never known for his prowess with the bat. Going in at his accustomed number 11 position, Carrick still required 4 runs for victory. The Carrick players and supporters, most of which could not bear to look, need not have worried, as he despatched the third ball he received to the boundary to take Carrick 2nds into their first Intermediate cup final since winning it in 1998, a final in which Arbuthnot played! They will play the winners of the Academy II v Donaghcloney Mill match which was postponed due to rain on Saturday.
