Sport
| Published date | 04 June 2021 |
Both batsmen started circumspectly with McNay, taking on his familiar anchor role, rotating the strike expertly, giving his senior partner as much of the bowling as possible.
After 10 overs, 35 runs were on the scoreboard with Holmes starting to get into his stride.
At 15 overs, the score had doubled with Holmes now peppering the boundary with some booming cover drives.
The pair continued in this vein putting on a club record opening partnership of 225 runs in 38 overs with Holmes showing that when he is in full flow he is an immense batsman with a vast array of shots.
Holmes carried his bat for 147 runs, an absolutely glorious innings which included 12 fours and 10 sixes.
What was even more impressive was the fact that he only gave one chance and at the time he was on 131. McNay's contribution of 48 can't be underestimated because Gamblesby only bowled one maiden over in their 40 over allocation and that was the fourth. He made sure that the scoreboard was ticking over all the time and his partner was getting most of the strike.
David Fallas came in after McNay was caught in the 38th over and his cameo of 19 runs, with some hardhitting blows, proved to be an important contribution, Saints finishing 248 for 1.
Saints players knew that although they had posted a more than competitive total at the crease, there was hard work still to be done to achieve the win.
Opening bowler Kieran Moore set the tone with a hostile and lively opening 10 over spell. He induced a few false shots with the pace he was generating on the artificial surface. Although not picking up what would have been a deserved wicket, this was definitely his best bowling of the season so far.
Gamblesby made a solid effort in reply spearheaded by their opening bat D Coleman who batted well for 76. He was eventually out caught by John Harriman off the bowling of Craig Bourner.
This turned the match in Saints favour and a further three wickets by Holmes, all his victims bowled, and a further wicket by McNay, Andy Geddes making a fine stumping and the sixth wicket to fall a smart run out by Ronan Wilson left the opposition runs short with four overs left.
The game was still in the balance.
However, fine death bowling by Niamh Muir saw victory achieved by 14 runs.
This...
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