At a game that was hampered by rain today at Waringstown, Patrick Kruger guided Derriaghy to its first-ever Arachas National Cup victory over Cliftonville Academy by a margin of four wickets.
Max Burton, the captain of Cliftonville Academy, won the toss and decided to bat first. However, he may have quickly come to regret that choice after watching from the non-strikers’ end as two wickets fell in the game’s first two overs (40 overs each side). Burton was joined by Jared Wilson (15), and the two batted resolutely to keep the innings stable. However, on 32, Burton top-edged a pull shot and was caught by a running Craig Lewis at deep mid-wicket.
With Cliftonville Academy in peril at 72-4 in the 15th over, Wilson was finally out thanks to a superb direct hit run out by Jordan Wade. The middle order was greatly in need of some runs from Abhishek Raut (25) and Varun Chopra (35) before Derriaghy’s fast bowlers, Patrick Kruger (4-27) and Lewis (3-31) raced through the lower order, taking the final six wickets for 64 runs as Cliftonville Academy was bowled out for 155 in 36.2 overs.
The game was changed to a 37 over-a-side contest after numerous rain delays, with 155 established as the DLS modified target for Derriaghy. Fans of Cliftonville Academy cheered in anticipation when Richard Hood bowled a wicket maiden to begin the second innings. However, Derriaghy opener Matthew Halliday quickly reeled off seven boundaries, many of which were well-timed pull shots to cow corner, to shift the match’s momentum back in favor of the Derriaghy side.
Halliday was caught for 41 (44), blazing a short ball to fielder Andrew Forbes at deep mid-wicket just as he appeared poised to win the match. The teams resumed the game after a protracted break in play when another seven overs had been lost and the DLS-revised goal of 139 had been established. Kruger went back to the crease and immediately started working on winning the game. He led Derriaghy to victory and won Player of the Match for his unbeaten 51 from 45 balls, which included five fours and two sixes.
SUMMARY OF MATCH
Arachas National Cup Final, 13 August 2023, Waringstown, Derriaghy CC vs. Cliftonville Academy CC
Cliftonville Academy 155 (36.2 overs); V. Chopra 35; M. Burton 32; P. Kruger 4-27)
Derriaghy 139-6 (28.3 overs; M Halliday 41, P Kruger 51*; B Kane 3-30)
By 4 wickets, Derriaghy prevailed.
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