Downpatrick cruise to T20 Trophy

Downpatrick cruise to T20 Trophy

1 August 2018

DOWNPATRICK were crowned T20 Trophy champions on finals day at The Lawn in Warinsgtown on Sunday when they beat Holywood by five wickets.

Waringstown’s ground staff made light of Saturday’s monsoon and the game got underway with only a 45 minute delay.  

Holywood’s captain won the toss and surprisingly decided to bat first.

Downpatrick knew that the Holywood top order had the potential to take the game away from them and captain Ross Boultwood and fellow opener, Mark Yeates, proved more than up to the task. 

Yeates removed both Beverland brothers early, along with former Warwickshire county cricketer and Ireland hopeful, Mark Adair, to return figures of 3-18 off 4 overs. 

Holywood got no respite when Tye Pilon was introduced.

He bowled with great control and removed former Premier League star Nathan Burns for just four runs.

Holywood were in deep trouble at this stage on 33-4 after 7 overs. Pilon’s four over spell saw just nine runs conceded. 

Things only got worse when Marty Gartland was given the ball and he removed the Hollywood middle order to match Yeates’ figures of 3-18. Thomas Magowan wrapped up the innings with 2-11 off his four overs. 

A total of nine catches were taken by Downpatrick fielders showing the level of performance required to compete in a major final.

Holywood were bowled out for just 84 in the final over with the number nine batsman top scoring with 18.

Acocks and Wade opened the innings for Downpatrick and looked to take the attack to the bowlers.

With the score on 15 in the second over Wade fell, caught at square leg having hit the previous ball for four.

Acocks was next man out with the score on 33. At this stage Holywood were right back in the game.

However, Ryan Smyth (27) and Ross Boultwood (16) rebuilt the innings and when Smyth smashed a huge six, Downpatrick were cruising. 

Downpatrick never like to do it the easy way though and when Smyth was stumped with the score on 61 and Boultwood was caught in the deep, just seven runs later, Downpatrick needed some cool heads. 

Craig Boultwood and Chris Martin held their nerve to get Downpatrick within touching distance of the trophy.

However, there was one twist left with Martin falling for four, caught and bowled by Wilson. 

Downpatrick stalwart, Dale Mullan, was left to hit the winning runs for what in the end turned out to be a comfortable five wicket victory with 23 balls to spare. 

Man of the match was awarded to Mark Yeates for his opening spell. 

This weekend, Downpatrick hope to continue their good form with games against Bangor on Saturday and a rearranged fixture against league leaders Lisburn on Sunday. 

Sunday’s match ball was sponsored by McGrath’s Garden Supplies.