The fifth round of the NCU Premier League saw civil service north, travel to Middle Road to take on Carrickfergus in an important clash in the context of the season.
Thompson, won an important toss and chose the bowl first. Foster and Archibald were superb with the new ball reducing the hosts to 22 for two after the first 10 overs with Archibald claiming the first two wickets caught behind by 14-year-old, wicket keeper, Marco Bates.
Leckey claimed the important third wicket of the innings which was Carrickfergusโs overseas player, Haasbroek caught at point by Jordan Neill as the hosts fell to 37 for three.
A fourth wicket partnership between Gordon and Haggan, added 77 before Leckey struck again, this time twice in an over, removing two set batsmen Gordon and Haggan.
A couple of useful partnerships pushed Carrick Fergus to a final score of 235 with Captain CJ van der Walt making 67 off 55 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
Archibald finished with four for 49, Leckey three for 47, and Foster two for 26. The first 11 were without normal opener Ryan Hunter, so Thompson decided to push Archibald up to open the innings.
He hit a boundary before being bowled by Haggan in the first over.Neil looked like continuing his good form before he was caught behind for 17 before the visitors fell to 94 for five, when Dyer was LBW to Haggan in the 25th over.
Leckey joined Ellison and the pair added 38 before Ellison was caught by a one-handed screamer at backward point. He made 70 off 107 balls with nine fours and two sixes. The hosts celebrated like the game had been won.
Kennedy joined Leckey and the duo set about playing some beautiful counter-attacking Cricket. Kennedy slog sweeping the left arm spinner to perfection, while Leckey hit straight through the leg side with power. Leckey completed his maiden first XI half century to end the match unbeaten on 57 off 68 balls with seven fours and one six.
Meanwhile Kennedy showed all his experience hitting the winning runs with a boundary to also reach his first half century since 2019 for the first XI. It came off just 43 balls with four fours and three sixes.
The four wicket victory with 18 balls to spare keeps the first XI in touching distance of the top six in the NCU Premier League. CSNI now take on Instonians in the second round of the Irish senior cup at Stormont.
We look forward to seeing you there!
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ญ๐ซ๐: ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ผ (๐ฐ๐ต.๐ฐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐)
S Gordon 46, A Haggan 32, CJ Walt 67, M Gilmour 21
M Foster 2-26, C Archibald 4-49, A Leckey 3-47
๐๐ฆ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐: ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ต/๐ฒ (๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐)
M Ellison 70, A Leckey 57*, J Kennedy 50*
A Haggan 3-42, P Sharma 2-52
๐๐ฆ๐ก๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐
CSNICC 