Published Friday, 29 July 2011
Lisburn Cricket Club was hosting the show piece event of the local cricketing calendar, as part of their celebrations as the oldest club in the Northern Cricket Union after 175 years in existence.
After winning the toss, Waringstown had elected to bat and posted a target of 191 for CSN to chase - a score that many observers felt was potentially 30 runs short of par.
The total was built around an excellent 63 from their captain and former Irish international Kyle McCallan. McCallan's was a patient knock - in hindsight exactly what was required as his 97 ball stay contained 6 boundaries.
He found willing allies in Lee Nelson - with 36 from 78 balls, hitting three fours and a six, but who needlessly gave his wicket away - and Johnnie Bushe, with an excellent fluent innings of 34 from 45 balls with three fours.
It would be difficult to find fault with the CSN performance in the field and captain Nigel Jones lead from the front with 3 for 30.
CSN made the perfect start in reply and raced to 36 without loss against the Waringstown opening attack and, just as it seemed that Waringstown were losing control, Keith Morrison struck twice in two deliveries - removing Ireland's Gary Wilson and Andrew Cowden.
As in the first innings, once the pace was taken off the ball and the spinners came on, run scoring became a premium. Just when CSN seemed to be back in charge at 59 for 2, it was an unlikely hero with the ball who completely ripped their innings apart.
In an unbelievable 60 minutes, CSN fell apart to the off spin of Lee Nelson.
The young Ireland A player took 5 for 23 in 10 overs, removing first professional Marc Ellison - who has looking comfortable in scoring 37 from 43 balls with five fours - and then the CSN talisman Nigel Jones.
Five wickets fell for 16 runs and then it was a matter of when, not if.
A defiant Allen Coulter struck 22 to prolong the contest, but CSN will be disappointed at how they capitulated so easily with the bat.
Lee Nelson deservedly took the Man of the Match award and there were two wickets each for Morrison and James Hall, but it was the youngest man in the history of the competition who had the last word.