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Three Leinster sides and one Northern Cricket Union side will make up Tuesday’s Semi-Final draw for the RSA Irish Senior Cup following some good contests played out in glorious weather across the country.
The Hills’ title defence is over after the Skerries side played CSNI in Stormont. Despite having been given a healthy head-start by the hosts who bowled 22 wides in the first 8 overs and 50 extras in total in their innings, The Hills could only manage 199 when they were bowled in out in the 50th over. Nigel Jones, Chris McMorran and Colin Andrews all took three wickets with no one getting past the 30s for the visitors. CSNI then paced their chase to perfection. Captain Jones completed a magnificent day scoring 80 not out with opener Andrew Cowden’s 60 supporting his captain as the hosts won by eight wickets.

CSNI v The Hills – The Hills 199 All Out lost to CSNI 200 for 2 won by 8 wickets http://www.crichq.com/matches/54165

The only side from the North West left in the competition at the start of the day will be kicking themselves after an interesting contest in Ballymagorry. Clontarf opening bowlers Joey Morrissey and Zander Van Der Merwe shared 7 wickets as Fox Lodge fell to 67 for 8 but a remarkable 77 ball century from Andy McGinnis kept Fox Lodge in the match. Crucially the home side only batted 35 of their overs as they were bowled out for 140. The game wasn’t close to being over, however, and the Fox Lodge bowling attack came out firing reducing Clontarf to 49 for 5. The experience of Andre Botha eventually told, though. Botha (65*) and captain Eoghan Delany, who made a watchful 25*, saw the Castle Avenue side home.

Fox Lodge v Clontarf– Fox Lodge 140 All Out lost to Clontarf 141 for 5 by 5 wickets http://www.crichq.com/matches/54167

2010 Champions Merrion won through to the semi-finals following an all-round team victory over Waringstown at the Lawn. Merrion made 206 and were bowled all out in the 50th over with South African Professional Brett Thompson top scoring with 63; Waringstown captain Kyle McCallan took 3 for 36. The visitor’s varied attack proved too much for Waringstown who never recovered from losing early wickets and despite an impressive innings of 70 from Jonathan Bushe the home side were bowled all out for 138.

Waringstown v Merrion – Merrion 206 All Out beat Waringstown 138 all out by 68 runs http://www.crichq.com/matches/54166

The last quarter-final was an all Leinster affair played out at Claremont Road. North County will have been disappointed not to make more than 217 following a good platform that they were given by Conor Armstrong’s 64. Yaqoob Ali and Simi Singh proved the star turn’s for the home side. The spinners accounted for eight wickets between them – Simi Singh taking the crucial wicket of Eddie Richardson for 30. YMCA’s chase suffered early blows when they lost Strydom and Tector but half centuries from Singh and Alan Lewis alongside a superb anchor innings of 83* from Albert Van Der Merwe saw the Dublin 4 side run out winners by 7 wickets.

YMCA v North County – North County 217 All Out lost to YMCA 223 for 3 by 7 wickets http://www.crichq.com/matches/54239

The full competition management section can be found by clicking here.

The Draw for the Semi-Finals will take place on Tuesday live on www.cricketireland.ie.

Cricket Ireland
Nigel Jones’ all round performance saw CSNI knock out holders The Hills
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