CRICKET REVIEW: Carrick's unbeaten run comes to an end at Lisburn

Some eyebrows were raised when Lisburn skipper Adam Berry won the toss and asked Carrick to bat first. However, his decision appeared to be vindicated as only Jamie Holmes, with a fluent 40, made any impression as Carrick slumped to 112 for 8 after 31 overs.

However, the experienced pairing of Ryan Eagleson and Gordon Browne got their heads down and a determined effort saw them share in an invaluable 61 run partnership during the course of the next 18 overs.

Eagleson was still there at the end of the Carrick innings, unbeaten on 42, as Carrick posted a more respectable 178 for 9 at the end of their 50 overs.

After a very slow start, Lisburn began to score more freely, and at the 25 over drinks interval, the match was evenly poised with Lisburn 91 for 4, with Ashwin Shetty picking up a couple of wickets.

South African professional Cody Chetty and James Magowan then began to take the match away from Carrick, adding 56 runs in a dozen overs.

Carrick then introduced Alex Haggan into the attack and he gave his side some real hope by bowling Magowan with his third delivery, and then struck the vital blow when he had Chetty, who had just completed his fifty, caught at cover.

With 32 runs still required, it was up to the experienced David Simpson if Lisburn were to get over the line. Eagleson, Haggan and Botha chipped in with three more wickets, and the last two batsmen were at the wicket with three runs still required.

In a tense finish the home side just managed to hold on, getting home in the 49th over, with Simpson unbeaten on 20.

Carrickfergus 178/9 (50 overs; J Holmes 40, R Eagleson 42 no, R McConkey 4-27, C Atkinson 2-27)

Lisburn 179/9 (48.4 overs; C Chetty 50, A Berry 28, J Magowan 27, A Haggan 3-19, A Shetty 2-29)

Lisburn won by 1 wicket