NORTH FERMANAGH 1ST V ST JOHNSTON
North Fermanagh travelled to Donegal on Saturday to play St Johnston in the second round of the North West Senior Cup and were beaten by the hosts in a well contested game.
North Fermanagh batted first and ran up a total of 207 for 7 from their fifty overs, they lost the wicket of Mark Roulston in the first over for nought and Ian Wilson followed with the score on eighteen.
St Johnston's tail's would have been up with such a decisive breakthrough as both batsmen were showing some early season form with the bat.
Niall Murray was joined by Emlyn Andrews and both batsmen began attacking the St Johnston bowling with some powerful stroke play and hard hitting Andrews was out for 48 with the total at 100 having scored four 4s and two 6s in a swashbuckling innings.
Murray followed some thirty runs later for a patient but well crafted 45 which included six 4s, Grant Wattleworth had joined Murray and went on to score 59 not out and included four 4s and two 6s and carried his bat to the end, R Coud and A Fleming were the pick of the St Johnston bowlers with three wickets each.
St Johnston's reply saw them race to 51 without loss after 10 overs before they lost their first wicket.
The second wicket fell with the score on 108 and with D Mc Beth compiling an excellent 101 before being run out St Johnston had reached 170 for 3 and victory was complete after 45.3 overs to see St Johnston progress to the next round. North Fermanagh although disappointed can take some positives from the game, especially the batting of Murray, Andrews and Wattleworth and can now concentrate on the league programme and the up-coming Samuel Jeffery cup.
NORTH FERMANAGH 2ND V BURNDENNETT
North Fermanagh 2nd played host to Burndennett in an Intermediate 4 league game on Sunday at Crevenish Rd and had a convincing win by 6 wkts, Burndennett batted first and scored 153 before being bowled out, P Roulston top scored for the visitors with 94 and was caught off the bowling of Rory
Maguire six short of his century with Jack and McGettigan being the other batsmen to reach double figures Burndennetts innings closed on 153 all out after 37 overs. North Fermanagh bowled and fielded very well and the wickets were shared among the bowlers with Wattleworth the leading wicket taker with 3 for 25 from seven overs.
Ian Wilson and Chris Faris made steady inroads into the Burndennett total following the loss of Mills for 1 in the 5th over, Wilson (21) and Faris (23) laid the foundation for Aiden Murray and Rory Maguire to see North Fermanagh home by 6wkts, Murray retired on 53 and Maguire retired on 32 to allow young Andrew Nevin and David Smith to see their team to victory by an impressive 6 wkts.
This weekend the 1stX1 travel back to St Johnston in the league on Saturday and the 2ndX1 entertain Crindle in the Intermediate "C" Cup at Crevenish Rd with a 1pm start.
