Cricket Ireland set to investigate incident

CRICKET:CRICKET IRELAND are expected to open an investigation into the circumstances behind the postponement of Saturday's Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup second-round match between Limavady and Instonians.

Instonians’ Ireland international Andrew White claimed he was assaulted by a Limavady player during the tea interval at the John Hunter Grounds after his side had bowled out the home team for 155, with White leading the way by taking three wickets.

Instonians were 27 for one at the interval when the alleged assault took place and the Belfast club decided they would finish the game under protest. That stance was not acceptable to Limavady, forcing the umpires to abandon the game.

Cricket Ireland last night received the umpires’ report and are expected to launch a full investigation into the incident.

Leinster sides dominate the quarter-final line-up in the All-Ireland competition, with five sides making it through to the last eight at the expense of sides from the north-west.

Defending champions Merrion beat Donemana by 27 runs at Anglesea Road, with Ben Ackland continuing his fine season with the bat, scoring 123 in the home side’s total of 271 for eight.

They will now meet Phoenix at the same venue in an all-Leinster quarter-final on July 2nd after Corie Dickenson’s side beat Glendermott by 140 runs in the Park.

Railway Union proved too strong for Eglinton at Park Avenue, where centuries from Tom Fisher (127) and Conor Mullen (119) helped them score a mammoth 348 for five before bowling out the visitors for 142.

Openers Ryan Hopkins (95) and Theo Lawson (88) put on 183 for the first wicket at Sydney Parade as Pembroke made 290 for five in their 82-run victory against Bready.

Leinster, who won the title in 2009, won on the road as they saw off Bonds Glen by three wickets in a low-scoring affair, with Clontarf being the only side to miss out as they were beaten by nine wickets by Brigade at Castle Avenue.

The game of the day took place at The Lawn, where Waringstown knocked out five-time champions North County, winning by 25 runs.

Kyle McCallan punished the Balrothery side after being dropped twice early on as the former Ireland international went on make 111, sharing in a 131-run stand with South African professional Obus Pienaar (82).

Half-centuries from Adam Coughlan (70) and Thomas Shiel (50) kept County in the game, until a late collapse saw them lose their last five wickets for 24 runs as they were bowled out for 258.