Larne Cricket Club, sponsored by the Curran Court Hotel, once again has five senior teams competing in the NCU League.  The Fifth eleven, playing in Division 3 Section 5, had 2 outings last weekend.  On Saturday they entertained CSNI Fifths at the Rugby Club, while on Sunday Donaghadee Thirds were the visitors to Sandy Bay.

The weather on Saturday was more reminiscent of December rather than late May with hailstones greeting the players as they took the field.  The captains decided to postpone the start, and after further deliberation, it was agreed to start at 2.30pm reducing the match to 25 overs per side.  Larne won the toss and chose to bat with opening pair Stephen Brennan and Ryan Glenholmes taking guard.  Glenholmes was unlucky to be bowled in the first over making way for Tom Saunderson at number 3. 

Brennan and Saunderson built an excellent foundation for the home side, putting on a partnership of 86, with Brennan the first to go being caught for 35, with the score on 87 for 2 after 17 overs.   John Hood; Paul Williamson; David McVeigh and Richard Hood all added valuable runs but in an attempt to score quickly lost their wickets.  Debutant, Phil Mawhinney, batted well scoring 13 not out with Andrew Wharry not out on 1.  Larne had scored 132 for 7 after their 25 overs and were confident they could defend that total.

After another short break for rain, the Larne side took the field with Tom Saunderson and, another debutant, Lee Thompson opening the bowling attack.  Both found a good line and length but one bad ball in every over was punished by the visiting batsmen.  Chasing a rate of 5 an over the Larne team did well to limit the scoring to just 4 runs an over.  However they were struggling to take wickets with McCandless and McComb putting on a 4th wicket partnership of over 80. 

This partnership proved to be decisive as they accelerated the rate to the required level.  Richard Hood and Andrew Wharry were the first change bowlers, the latter sharing an end with David McVeigh.  By this stage CSNI had reached over 100 and, with 3 overs left, needed just 11 runs to win.  Some good work in the field by Stephen Dick and Lee Thompson helped stop the visitors scoring valuable singles and, with the pressure building, Larne secured 3 quick run outs. 

However, with just one over to go only 3 runs were needed.  The Larne fielders were gathered round the opponent’s batsman in order to stop the single but with one run needed off the last 2 balls there was little they could do to prevent the winning run being scored.  In another very dramatic and exciting finish, the home side were beaten by 3 wickets with just ball remaining.

RESULT – Larne V’s lost to CSNI V’s by 3 wickets.