Not for the First Time Adrian Harper Leads Balbriggan to Victory

With Balbriggan in a cup final, it really had to be a Harper who led their charge for victory but there were plenty of helping hands as they claimed a second YM Salver in three years with a 37-run victory over a gallant Carlow side on Sunday.

Harper (45) started with great intent aided by Kavanagh-Martin (14) who struck two boundaries in the opening over. 

With Balbriggan pegged back to 48/3, Mel McGee joined Harper at the crease and the youngster was crucial to the final total posted.

A bundle of energy throughout his innings, McGee (41*) doubled the score in combination with Harper before adding another 31 with his captain Abdul Samad (16) for the sixth wicket.

All told Harper and McGee were the backbone of a strong Balbriggan total of 143/6 off their 20 overs. Carlow never stopped in the field and all their bowlers took wickets with Robi Alam leading the effort with 2-40.

In reply, Carlow were quickly 22/2 as Khalid Bilal (1-17) and Syed Haris (2-14) picked up the wickets of both openers.

Captain Rocky Butt (26) counterattacked with a boundary through cover and big six over long-on but the run rate kept rising for the Carlow side.

When Tariq Faheem (4-19) trapped Butt LBW before taking two in two balls to finish the 13^th over, Carlow were 73/6 and the task looked nigh on impossible.

Balbriggan delivered the final stunning blow by taking three wickets in three balls and Carlow were reeling at 91/9, the victors decided in the YM Salver.

All credit to Robi Alam and Asif Butt however as they saw the innings through to the final ball to ensure Carlow weren’t bowled out.

A great final, played in fine spirit but the better side on the day did win out. Carlow are the coming force and a great success story for the Rohingya people in Ireland.

Heatley Tector, President of YMCA CC, was on hand to present the Player of the Match award to Balbriggan opener Adrian Harper, while Amanda Dunlop presented the YM Salver, which was donated in memory of Alec Dunlop, to Balbriggan captain Abdul Samad.    

YM Salver T20 Cup Final

Balbriggan 2 v Carlow 1, Sunday July 21^st, YMCA CC

Balbriggan 2 143/6 (A Harper 45, M McGee 41*; R Alam 2-40, S Nagra 1-32)

Carlow 1 106/9 (R Butt 26; T Faheem 4-19, S Haris 2-19)

Balbriggan 2 won by 37 runs