ST JOHNSTON WERE edged out by a wafer-thing margin by Fox Lodge in their opening game of the North-West Championship on Sunday.
The game was postponed the previous week because of weather and, a day after they were beaten by Phoenix in the Irish Senior Cup, the Saints ran Championship favourites Fox Lodge close.
On Saturday, St Johnston were beaten by seven wickets by top Leinster side Phoenix.
St Johnston were 139-all-out with Alan Macbeth 44 not out and David Lapsley making 27.
Phoenix had little trouble making the mark, going to 143 for the loss of only two wickets. Reinhardt Strydom scored 100 runs for the winners with David Anthony’s 2-38 the pick of the Saints’ bowlers.
On Sunday evening, in a game that saw each team play just 22 overs, St Johnston – relegated from the top flight last season – pushed Fox Lodge all the way.
For Fox Lodge, Jason Milligan made 43 not out and Brian Allen took 25 as the home side scored 109 for the fall of six wickets,
Andrew Fleming (3-25) stopped the Fox Lodge attack and reduced the run-rate from the home side.
St Johnston captain David Macbeth (above) (30 not out), Alan Macbeth (24) and David Lapsley (14) led the way in the comeback, but a heavy fall of wickets contributed to St Johnston’s downfall.
However, going into the last over, they were within eight of a victory, but St Johnston could only manage five runs off those last six balls.
For a side said to be in transition, it represented a decent first outing and one that gives them a little confidence going forward for the season.
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