Erne Community Cricket Club opened their NWCU League 5 campaign with a close-fought home win, by three wickets, over Coleraine 3rds at Lower Celtic Park.
Skipper Mick Lodge won the toss and put Coleraine in to bat under overcast skies. ECCC’s line-up was full of all-rounders, and nine bowlers were used throughout Coleraine’s innings, which enabled everyone to keep fresh and sharp in the field.
A damp outfield meant runs were at a premium, and tight bowling kept Coleraine to just four boundary shots all innings.
Special mention goes to Rinu Mathew (4 for 15 off 3.3), Bibin Tommy (3 for 9 off 3) and P Navakumar (3 for 13 off 6). Sachin Varghese offered stout resistance scoring 31 off 61 balls, but Coleraine were eventually all out for 110 off 26.3 overs.
ECCC got off to a swift reply as Jack Feist punched the first ball of our innings for four through the covers.
The home side were scoring quickly in the run chase, but losing wickets at regular intervals. Navakumar played some classy leg side shots to score a quickfire 25 off 16, and Vijay Kumar dug out 18 valuable runs in the middle order.
At the end of the 14th over, ECCC were wobbling at 85 for 7 and momentum was with Coleraine. However, a resolute eighth wicket partnership of 29 runs – the highest of the match – between M Mukesh and Eoghan Brown saw ECCC safely home from that danger point.
ECCC’s final innings total was 114 for 7 off 20.1 overs.