MALAHIDE – On Day One we were treated to the long awaited return of domestic multi-day cricket in full technicolour but the loss of Days Two and Three meant only one result was possible. Scorecard here
DAY FOUR
- Play began with the Strikers batting in their first innings as the Raiders had declared overnight.
- Strikers captain Andrew Balbirnie scored quickly until undone by Liam McCarthy who also dismissed Curtis Campher in the same over.
- Paul Stirling immediately set about his work at the crease, regularly finding the boundary with remarkable footwork.
- Raiders dropped two chances but Stirling still fell to Hoey for 90 who previously deceived Dockrell with one that bowled him.
- Andy McBrine registered another red ball fifty to go with his 64 from the first class game against West Indies Academy in Stormont.
- With no chance of a possible result in sight, both captains eventually shook hands. Player of the Match: Lorcan Tucker for his 125 not out on Day One.
DAY THREE
- Frustratingly play was again called due to rain. Surely Day Four had to be different, and so it was.
DAY TWO
- Play called due to rain. But weather forecast on Day Three looking much better (fingers crossed).
DAY ONE
- Day One began with Raiders winning the toss and scoring quickly with the bat in the opening overs.
- Strikers came into the contest at the end of the first session but without the taking of a wicket.
- After lunch Raiders lost crucial wickets mainly in the form of a Harry Tector run out when sent back by Chris De Freitas.
- Lorcan Tucker helped consolidate the innings with a captain’s hundred forming useful partnerships with Chris De Freitas, Gavin Hoey and Graham Hume.
- The pairing with Hume proved especially thorny for the Strikers who struggled to make another breakthrough at the end of a long day.
- Raiders finished 303-6 at the close. Lorcan Tucker 125 (177), Graham Hume 53 (104) – 118 for the seventh wicket.
