False start on Emerald Isle tour

An overcast Carrickfergus saw the first day of the Western Cricket Academy U17s tour to Ireland. Northern Cricket Union, under the command of ex-Ireland international Ryan Eagleson and ex-Pakistan A player Taimar Khan, fielded a predominantly U17 XI with two U18s. Like the Western XI the NCU had some international youth caps in it. WCA captain Fraser Conn lost the toss and the hosts invited the young Scots to bat.
 
Sam Shannon and Robert McKinley bowled an impressive opening spell, displaying good pace and accuracy, with no wide bowled by either until the tenth over. Danial Chaudhry (Poloc) struck two impressive fours before a terrific delivery from McKinley clean bowled him. Elliot Speirs (Ayr) followed soon after, caught at point to a soft shot after several accurate Shannon deliveries.

Abdul Sabri (Drumpellier) was very watchful as he tried to consolidate but McKinley was too quick for him and he departed for 9 after 38 balls. SS Chitnis (Clydesdale) was well caught by tidy gloveman Jordan Mears and skipper Conn was yorked first ball.

Alex Baum rallied the middle order and looked in good form but a third run was one too many and he was run out despite an athletic dive. Calum McLaughlin (Ayr)  and Ross Arbuckle (Kelburne) got 25 and 12 respectively to drag the innings out to the 39th over of the allotted 45.

The final total a miserable 116. Shannon finishing with only 1 wicket despite an impressive opening spell, with his bowling partner McKinley finishing with 4 wickets.
 
After tea the Academy lads needed to come out firing. The decision to open with leg spinner Speirs almost paid off as he beat the outside edge of opening bat Burns twice.

SS Chitnis made an early break through with his off breaks at the other end as he cleaned bowled Onyekwelu for 8. The talented NCU skipper Jason Van Der Merwe bludgeoned 40 from 24 balls, while Burns also got to 40 in the slightly more pedestrian rate of 39 balls.

Ross Arbuckle again bowled well, and in an unaccustomed role of fifth  bowler, accounting for Burns with an excellent in-swinging Yorker.

With the score on 107 Sam Shannon, having seen out 5 good deliveries from Young, mistimed a long hop and was caught by Conn. Hall then accompanied his captain as the winning runs were struck in the 16th over.
 
The WCA lads will have to improve on today’s batting display when they take on Leinster U17 at Merrion Cricket Club tomorrow.

Iain Stewart