St. Johnston defeated Championship league leaders Killyclooney on Sunday.
Killyclooney won the toss and elected to bat in ideal scoring conditions.
Picture: St Johnston’s Michael Rankin
After a positive start, the saints looked to have the Clooney reeling at 70 for 5 thanks to some tight bowling from Scott Devenney, who also picked up two key wickets.
However the Killyclooney men staged a good comeback to eventually post 231/8 from their 50 overs, Andrew Fleming and Nathan Cole also picking up two wickets a piece.
The second innings saw the Saints get off to a great start with the bat as Jack Macbeth (30), Tariq Islam (33) and Michael Rankin top scoring, displaying a return to form with a fluid and well-crafted 57 taking the saints to 153/3.
However from here, St. Johnston made very hard work of things, with the mid order collapsing to 184/8, with 50 runs still required and only 2 wickets remaining hopes were fading fast before Dawie Barnard entered the fray and gave the saints supporters the spectacle they were hoping to see.
His superb big hitting 40 not out, off only 30 deliveries, ably supported by Josh Cole who batted with real maturity, saw the saints over the line for a hard fought victory against the odds.
