NCU Senior Section 3
Dundrum 205 (39.1 overs)
Drumaness Superkings 163-7 (18.1 overs)
Drumaness Superkings beat Dundrum
by three wickets (DLS)
DLS par score was 161 off 19 overs
Drumaness Superkings Cricket Club first XI completed the ultimate comeback on Saturday, recovering from 21/3 after just 2.4 overs as the returning James Cunningham (44) and captain Neil Gelston (62*) shared a crucial 62-run partnership to guide the home side to victory against local rivals Dundrum Cricket Club.
Drumaness won the toss and elected to bowl on a day where rain looked inevitable — a decision that ultimately proved decisive.
Opening the batting for Dundrum at The Meadow were wicketkeeper Rhodri Phillips (38) and captain Scott Symington (19), who built a strong opening partnership of 64 before Garry Walsh, assisted by Muhammad Abid, removed Phillips.
Stuart Campbell (37) joined the crease, but shortly afterwards young Eoin Gelston, aided by his father Neil, stumped Symington.
Soon after, David Glover (6) fell to an unplayable delivery from Garry Walsh.
After Matthew Douglas (1) was dismissed by Eoin Gelston in the following over, the Campbell brothers — Stuart and Andrew Campbell — produced a 72-run partnership that proved instrumental in Dundrum’s final total.
Stuart Campbell was eventually caught in the slips by Ahmad Gondal off an excellent delivery from Manjunath Srinivasamurthy.
The tide then began to turn in favour of the Superkings after the dismissal of Keba Butler (17), with opener Muhammad Abid striking twice to dismiss both Ian Wright and John Varghese for ducks.
Andrew Campbell (48) fell in the 39th over before Luke Williamson (8) departed in the final over.
The Drumaness bowlers were outstanding throughout the innings, with notable figures from Senthilkumar Santhanakrishnan (2-32), Muhammad Abid (2-35), Garry Walsh (2-43) and Eoin Gelston (2-22).
Dundrum were eventually bowled out for 205.
Amit Pattnaik (0) and Darren Oldroyd (4) opened the batting for Drumaness, but Andrew Campbell made an immediate impact.
Campbell struck with the first ball of the innings to dismiss Pattnaik, before bowling Garry Walsh for a duck with the second ball faced by the batsman.
After a lively opening over from Symington in which James Cunningham struck back with 11 runs, Campbell struck again, removing Oldroyd for four.
Neil Gelston came to the crease, but rain arrived in the third over. The delay lasted more than an hour, reducing the innings to 19 overs under the DLS system and leaving Drumaness chasing 162 for victory.
Cunningham and Neil Gelston then produced the defining partnership of the innings.
Matthew Douglas redeemed himself by dismissing Cunningham for 44, caught by John Varghese at square leg. Senthilkumar Santhanakrishnan (22) then added a further 48-run stand with Neil Gelston before being dismissed by Scott Symington.
Useful contributions followed from Ahmad Zaheer Gondal (1) and Abhishek Sanglikar (8) before Muhammad Abid (6) launched a huge six towards the road, and Neil Gelston struck the match-winning boundary.
Dundrum’s standout bowlers were Andrew Campbell, who claimed 4-36, and Scott Symington with 2-37.
The victory moved Drumaness Superkings joint-top of NCU Section 3 following their opening league win against Amigos.
Drumaness Superkings Cricket Club also wished Dundrum all the best for the remainder of the season.
Match ball sponsor: Stephen Brown.
