The past weekend should have seen North Fermanagh Cricket Club play three matches, but the weather took its toll and only the first team match on Saturday went ahead.

With the cup game in mind on the Sunday, Graeme Fitzpatrick, NFCC Captain, rested a number of the usual first team players and gave a number of squad players a match. His faith in his squad was definitely rewarded with another stand-out performance by all.

Burndennett won the toss and chose to bat first. Chris Faris and David Mills opened the bowling for the Fermanagh men and from the off they restricted the batters.

David’s pace caused the batters difficulties from the start and he was quickly rewarded with a wicket in his first over, the ball clearing the stumps from the ground and forcing the batter B. Logue (3) to return to the clubhouse.

David picked up the other opening batters, C. Roulston (2), in his following over, again clean bowling him with a ball that kept low and bamboozled the batter.

Chris Faris, at the other end, soon dismissed P. Murphy (0) with a ball that struck the batter squarely on the pad – his precision bowling too much for the Burndennett man. After the first eight overs, the home side had lost three wickets, and only managed 17 runs.

The experienced heads of G Porter (26) and B McGettigan (38) then started to grind out runs with the ball running quickly to the boundary over the very fast outfield.

Porter was eventually dismissed, caught behind by Gordon Fitzpatrick from the bowling of Scott Croft.

Croft soon picked up his second wicket of the match when debutante Dave Rees caught a looping ball that at first appeared to be drifting well over, and was undoubtedly heading for the boundary.

David Mills returned to the bowling attack and was again rewarded with another wicket, this time, E McGettigan (16) striking the ball well only to be caught right on the boundary by a diving catch from Graeme Fitzpatrick.

The following ball, Mills got his fourth wicket of the match with Duncan Robertson catching, one handed, R McGettigan (0), acrobatically diving to his right.

Kieran Shead, not wanting to be left out, picked up the wicket of C Patten (2) with one of his trademark balls that keep low and skidded on to the stumps. Ben Duffy continued his excellent run with the ball and picked up the wicket of M Roulston (37), Matthew Morrison catching a high ball that seemed to change direction in mid air from the strong cross-wind that had been blowing across the pitch throughout the match, Burndennett finishing on 160 all out.

Chris Faris (42) and David Mills (30) quickly got to work with the bat, with both peppering the boundary with a number of fours and sixes.

After Mills was caught by M Roulston, Scott Croft (19) came to the centre and continued to add runs.

The introduction of C Roulston to the Burndennett’s bowling attack caused the batters some issues, with Faris and Croft both falling.

Matthew Morrison (32) put on an impressive display, clearing not only the field but the neighbouring car park.

Graeme opted to give Matthew Nixon (5) and Ben Duffy (6) an opportunity with the bat and both helped to work away at the required run rate.

Graeme eventually came to the crease and with 15 runs required, he and Duncan Robertson efficiently saw out the the final requirement, North Fermanagh finishing on 163 for 7 of just 17 overs.

It was an enjoyable and sportsmanlike performance from both teams on an outstanding pitch – a credit to the Burndennett grounds team.

Unfortunately, both games that were meant to be played on Sunday were washed out, with the first team’s cup game against Bready to be rescheduled in the coming weeks.

This coming Saturday, NFCC firsts welcome Drummond to Kesh, for a 1pm start. Sunday sees the second team away at Donemana.