Enniskillen Cricket Club got back into action on Sunday last after several weeks of inactivity due to the inclement weather when they travelled to BRA playing fields to take on Cliftonville Academy 4s in an NCU Section 10 league fixture.

Despite it being dry for all the journey up the rain unfortunately set in just prior to the team's arrival at the ground and then lingered around for the rest of the day but the two teams were determined to get the match played and as a result the match was shortened to a T20 game and Enniskillen went into bat first having lost the toss in what could only be described as atrocious conditions; wet underfoot and overhead.

Enniskillen openers Stephen Maxwell and Darshan Nair therefore found scoring very difficult initially due to the conditions and several early wickets fell as well the team reaching 45/4 after 11 of the allotted overs.

Several of the batsmen, the skipper himself, Aby Theckanath, Bibin Matthew and Kenny Maxwell all got in but were unable to push on and all got into double figures, Maxwell Snr ending top scorer with 17 n.o but ran out of overs and partners at the end the town team finishing on 87 all out with three balls of the innings left.

The team probably felt like it was 15 runs short of being a competitive total in those conditions.

After the break Enniskillen took to the field and set about trying to defend the lowish total and had initial success when Bibin Matthew bowled one of the Cliftonville openers.

Further wickets followed as the rest of the bowling attack did a sterling job in the conditions backed up by some excellent fielding where Paul Ramsay was exceptional on the boundary.

Nair and Kenny Maxwell took a wicket apiece and Bibin Tommy and new signing Bruce Taverner were while unlucky, were very accurate and the match went to the last over yet again this year but as with so many occasions the opposition managed to get over the line with only three balls of the match remaining.

Déjà vu yet again for Enniskillen and the story of their season has been one of near misses and wasted opportunities unfortunately.

Matthew was excellent with three wickets but the team left yet again feeling that an opportunity for victory had not been taken.

Only three matches left now starting with their last trip away to Lurgan park on Saturday next to take on Victoria and the team will be hoping for a change of fortune to finish the season on a high

Match summary

Enniskillen 87 all out (19.3 ovs) K.Maxwell 17 n.o.

Cliftonville Academy 4s 88/7 (19.3 ovs) B.Matthew 3/19

Cliftonville Academy won by three wickets