Bready skipper David Scanlon chose his North West Warriors debut, and his home ground, to turn in a superb performance with the ball as Ian McGregor’s charges held their own on Day 1 of the Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial match with the Northern Knights.
The home side came flying out of the traps having won the toss and opted to bowl first, with Scanlon, who spent a season as assistant coach to Bobby Rao last year, leading the charge.
Neither of the Knights’ openers- Chris Dougherty or Nikolai Smith- managed a run between them as the visitors slumped to 4-2 early on and although James McCollum (9) followed soon after, a solid effort from the middle order dragged the batting side back into it.
Runs were hard come by if truth be told; it took 23 overs to bring up 25 but it was needs-must for the Knights as James Shannon and Jamie Holmes started the revival. This pair posted a 42-run stand before Shannon was trapped in front by Scanlon for 25, bringing Holmes and Lee Nelson together in the middle.
The Carrick man had looked untroubled thus far but just two runs short of his half century, Ryan Macbeth found the edge of his bat and Oraine Williams threw himself across Danza Hyatt in slips to pouch a belter of a catch.
Nelson and his Waringstown team-mate Greg Thompson added another 56 before the latter went leg before to Ross Allen for 42 (8 fours) as the Knights upped the ante, however the villagers’ skipper didn’t manage to make it to his half century either- caught in the cordon by Hyatt as Scanlon claimed a third.
Where the rest failed, Shane Getkate obliged; the CSNI man batting at Number 8 hit 7 fours and a six as he made 53- sharing in a late stand of 80 with Jacob Mulder that totally frustrated the Warriors. Mulder played a gem of an innings himself as he added 41 before both of them, and last man, Allan Coulter were all bagged by Scanlon, bringing his haul to six.
In the end a total of 277 all out was an excellent effort given their start with Macbeth, Williams, Barnes and Allen all picking up a wicket apiece for the Warriors.
The home side was then faced with batting for 40 minutes however David Rankin and makeshift opener Ross Allen negotiated 7 overs adding 24 runs before rain brought an early end to proceedings. Play resumes tomorrow (WED) at 11am.
HANLEY ENERGY INTERPOVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
At Bready- Day 1 close
Northern Knights 277 all out (92.5 overs, S Getkate 53, L Nelson 49, J Holmes 48, G Thompson 42, J Mulder 41, J Shannon 25, D Scanlon 6-37)
North West Warriors 24-0 (7.2 overs, D Rankin 9*, R Allen 9*)
No
Connaught
