With early wickets a priority in such a low-scoring encounter, opening bowlers Rob Jones and Mark Kilroy wasted no time. Jones ended up with 4-17 from his three overs, including a superb catch off his own bowling to dismiss the danger man Naqvi for just 10. Kilroy, usually a specialist batsman, took the valuable scalps of Charma and Singh, breaking the momentum of the NCI middle order.  

Runs were still being scored by the city-centre team, and when Malik Umar and Jamie Stackpoole replaced Jones and Kilroy with the ball an NCI victory still seemed to be inevitable. At the halfway point of the innings 20 runs were required with three wickets in hand. A run out in the ninth over left NCI down to their last man, Reddy, who needed just five runs in three overs to see out the win.

With eight balls remaining, Mark Kilroy, having taken over the wicketkeeping duties from Stackpoole, took a gloveless catch off Malik's bowling to dismiss the brave Reddy, provoking wild celebrations among the ITT contingent.

The fact that this may well have been the first officially organised cricket match in Tallaght's recent history added to the sense of pride and satisfaction among players and management, and is another success story in the Leinster Cricket Union and SDCC's joint bid to promote cricket in schools and colleges beyond its traditional heartlands. ITT will play a UCD selection next Monday night (December 3rd)