Stevenson and Marshall carry the Cloney to second win of the season

Jonny Stevenson and Davie Marshall refused to be beaten and completed an unbeaten partnership of 80 to haul their side over the line.

Donaghcloney had a strong team out and everyone hoped the weather would not interrupt the game.

As usual, skipper Keith Martin lost the toss and was asked to bowl on what looked a damp green track. Drumaness took to the crease and openers N Geltson and J Cunningham batted really well.

They punished any wayward deliveries and the Cloney showed great patience until Steven Hanna fooled Cunningham into a false shot and had him caught and bowled in the 15th over with the score on 55.

Hanna again bowled well and ended up with figures of 2-19 off his 10. Gary Knox, who strained a thigh muscle while fielding in the second over of the game, hobbled on throughout the 50 overs in the field and when invited to bowl, didn’t need asked twice. Even though he was clearly in some real discomfort, he bowled his 10 overs 2-35.

Star of the bowling attack was Mansing, who bowled his medium pace for the first time in a Donaghcloney jersey. He bowled straight and accurately and was rewarded with figures of 5-19 off six overs. N Geltson was the anchor of the Drumaness innings, batting superbly for his 94 before Mansing pushed one through the gate and took his off stump.

A late flurry from G Moore, who ended up on 30 not out, made full use of the short boundaries at Drumaness.

With a target of 191 to win the game, Donaghcloney took to the field knowing everyone would have to contribute.

Drumaness started where they left off the batting and took the early scalp of Phil Derby in the third over with the score on 11. K Martin promoted himself up the order to see off the opening bowlers.

This plan didn’t work as he ran himself out chasing a single to mid off, who sent him back to the pavilion with a direct hit when he had scored just three. “I don’t get out of the blocks like I used to,” concluded the skipper.

Alan Harland came to the crease and his rotten luck continued and he got one that kept really low and he was bowled for one by Cunningham. All of a sudden, Donaghcloney were 35-3 and 190 seemed a long way off.

Mansing was next in and along with opener S Hanna, they steadied the ship. They put on 57 for the fourth wicket before Hanna was trapped leg before in the over before drinks.

Matthew Lyttle and Mansing then got themselves confused going for a quick single and Matthew sacrificed his wicket run out without troubling the scorers. Mansing then started to take control but miss-hit to long on and he was caught on the ropes for a tidy 56.

At this stage, the scoreboard read Donaghcloney 115-6 in the 27th over. The collapse continued with Colin Hylands being bowled first ball by N Geltson and Drumaness were on fire.

With four wickets in the space of 25 balls, the Cloney collapse was in full swing. With Knox not wanting to bat due to his leg injury, David Marshall and Jonny Stevenson were out in the middle with the scores at 115-7 in the 28th over.

The two batsmen showed great maturity, didn’t panic and just set about batting for a while and getting some control back. Then the clouds built up overhead and the first few drops of rain started to fall. Being 18 runs behind on the D/L score, Marshall and Stevenson put together three aggressive overs and got ahead of the par score.

This was the turning point. From here, the pair took singles at will and smashed anything loose to the boundary. Soon the rain was becoming heavier but the umpires stayed out as the Cloney only needed 10 to win and were well ahead on the D/L score.

Jonny Stevenson finished the match in style with a six over mid off to give the Cloney their second win of the season. Davie Marshall ended up on 37 not out while Jonny Stevenson finished on 34 not out. A great partnership of 80 for the eighth wicket to win the match with nine overs to spare.