CSNI first XI Captain Stuart Thompson won the toss again, and just as he did last week, elected to bat first. This was a crucial league match for the hosts, looking to get their 2024 league campaign off the mark at their third attempt.
An international class seam attack proved difficult to get away in the first 10 overs, and it was the change of bowling from the city end of Stormont that brought about the first wicket of Neil caught at mid on with the score on 33.
Hunter continued on his merry way, passing 50, off just 63 balls with seven fours, adding 80 with Ellison before the former was needlessly run out.
Spinners, Thompson and Cameron Dow put the brakes on the scoring rate as the hosts fell to 174 for five in the 38th over when Thompson was run out from a direct hit by test incumbent opening bat McCollum.
At that point overseas pro Archibald, joined Beverland, and the pair set about putting on a lively partnership of 56 off just 40 balls when Archibald was caught at deep mid wicket for 39 off 23 balls, including four sixes.
12 penalty runs for Waringstownโs slow over rate came in handy pushing the final total to 271 For nine.
At the halfway point, the hosts were pleased with their efforts but could not afford to rest on their laurels, given the depth to Waringstownโs batting lineup. When you consider James Cameron Dow who has at least one 1st XI century, was batting at number 10.
Foster struck twice early, removing Sam Topping and McCollum, with the score on 23. Dennison and Topping then set about constructing a tidy partnership, before Leckey had the former court behind in the same over that he passed 50.
That proved to be a turning point for civil service as they collected another six wickets for just 51 runs. It was only a 31 run stand between Cameron Dow and Snell for the final wicket that gave the visitors some respectability with the final margin being 121 runs.
Jordan Neillโs right arm off spin proved challenging to get away for another week, claiming three for 28, while Leckey and Foster claimed two each and Beverland, not to be forgotten, who claimed a direct run out of the danger man, Morgan Topping.
That means the 1st XI are off the mark in the league and face another tough test on Sunday when they come up against Instonians at Stormont in a rearranged fixture.
๐๐ฆ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐: ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ญ/๐ต (๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐)
R Hunter 57, M Ellison 47, S Thompson 22, P Beverland 20, C Archibald 39
B Bhatti 3-36, T Mayes 3-55
๐ช๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐: ๐ญ๐ฑ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ผ (๐ฏ๐ฏ.๐ฐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐)
A Dennison 50, M Topping 32
J Neill 3-38, A Leckey 2-28, M Foster 2-17
๐๐ฆ๐ก๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐
CSNICC 