Stormont avoided much of the forecasted deluge to get a result in the Gallagher Challenge Cup final despite a few rain breaks in a tense DLS-affected game.
Highlights of the final:
- Muckamore captain Neil Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first.
- Sathish Suresh removed the dangerous Faiz Fazal for 13 meanwhile Jonny Waite (41), Glenn Halliday (45*) and Mark Adair (56) scored the bulk of the Lisburn runs as they posted 265-8 in 50 overs. Sathish Suresh took 3-43 and Jason Van Der Merwe 2-30.
- The Muckamore innings began with a target of 266 to win, then revised to 215 off 38 overs and then 168 off 32 overs after some prolonged periods of rain.
- Mark Gleghorne held his bat for 47* and was the anchor of the innings winning him the Gallagher Player of the Match award.
- Ben Calitz ably supported Gleghorne and scored 42* to see his Muckamore team to an emphatic cup victory in the evening sunshine.
NIACUS Umpires Gareth Morrison and Simon Burrowes with Lisburn captain Neil Whitworth and Muckamore captain Neil Gill and Third Umpire Warren McCully
Thank you to our sponsors Gallagher for their continued support of the men’s and women’s Challenge Cup competitions and to all Gallagher representatives who attended the final. Further thanks to the on-field and off-field staff at The Ward, Stormont for their tireless efforts in ensuring the final was played and a result obtained. And to the NIACUS officials for their exemplary officiating in a challenging game due to the weather and DLS.
Lisburn 265-8 (50 overs, J Waite 41, M Adair 56, G Halliday 45*, D Miller 22, S Suresh 3-43, J Van Der Merwe 2-30)
Muckamore 170-3 (31.3 overs, S Suresh 30, M Gleghorne 47*, J Van Der Merwe 24, B Calitz 42*)
Muckamore beat Lisburn by 7 wickets (DLS)
DLS par score was 167 off 32 overs