Runs galore in JHMP

Five wickets and a century for Stephen Doheny [File Photo]

Rush took the short journey to Jack Harper Memorial Park on Saturday for their much anticipated Local Derby with Balbriggan. On a beautiful sunny day Balbriggan won the toss and decided to Bat. Conor Fletcher and Adrian Harper opened for balbriggan and had reached 15 in the third over when Harper was caught behind by Rock off the bowling of Neary. Farooq Nasr joined Fletcher for a 62 run partnership, 48 of which were scored by Nasr with 9 fours before he fell lbw to A Neary. Timcen Maruma joined Fletcher before Fletcher was bowled by A Neary for 21. Balbriggan now 3-92. Adam Keefe and Tim Maruma batted steadily for about ten overs bringing the score to 141 where Keefe was bowled by A Maguire. Enter Nathan Rooney to join Maruma. What followed was a brilliant partnership of 126 in 16 overs. Rooney bowled by Stephen Doheny for 63 with 3 fours and 5 sixes. Ehtesham Ahmed joined Maruma and the runs continued to flow. A partnership of 51 in 6 overs ended when Ahmed was caught and bowled by Doheny. Balbriggan were 6 for 318 after 46 overs. Three runs later Timcen Maruma eventually fell for a brilliant 125 in 117 balls with 13 fours and 2 sixes. After that Balbriggan lost their way. Kashif Ali bowled by S Doheny for 1. Abdul Samad caught by D Coffey again off Doheny for 1. Debutant Aidan Murray lbw to Doheny for 1, leaving Syed Harris, another debutant 0 not out. Balbriggan all out for 326 in 48.5 overs. A little short of what they would have liked but nonetheless a good score. Rush bowlers toiled hard in the heat. Stephen Doheny 6.5 overs, 5 for 50 the pick, mopping up the tail at the end. A Neary 2-56, A Eastwood 2-64 and A McGuire 1-33 the other wicket takers. With a fast outfield and a good wicket Balbriggan's total was gettable.

Conor Armstrong and Stephen Doheny opened the batting for Rush and immediately went about their job with vigour. They reached 113 in the 20th over when Armstrong was stumped by Adam Keefe from the bowling of Aidan Murray. Conor Mullen joined Doheny and the pair put on 80 in 11 overs taking the score to 193 when Mullen was caught by Adam Keefe off the bowling of Syed Harris. Neil Rock joined Doheny who was batting brilliantly for the biggest partnership of the innings. The pair put on 126 in 15 overs. Rock caught by Adam Keefe from the bowling of Aidan Murray. Doheny had serenely passed his century by this time. He was joined by S Iqbal. When the score was 323 Doheny was bowled by Ehtesham Ahmed for a magnificent 142 hitting 11 fours and 4 maximums. S Iqbal not our 4 and P Viswanath not out 4 brought Rush home with 17 balls to spare. Balbriggan were two bowlers short in their starting line up. This wasn't helped when leg spinner Timcen Maruma injured his shoulder in his first over and was only able to bowl 3 overs. They tried hard on the day, but fell short. Debutants Aidan Murray 2-58 and Syed Harris 1-49 took their first Senior Wickets. Ehtesham Ahmed 1-51 the other wicket taker. With a seriously fast outfield and an excellent wicket, 326 was always an achievable target for Rush. Their excellent young batting attack did so with a little to spare. They are now just behind Balbriggan in the table with all to play for for the rest of the season. Once again Jack Harper Park yielding a feast of runs.