Rathaur does the damage as Ballina cricketers earn win
Ballina Cricket Team pictured after their win over Ballyhaunis.
Ballyhaunis were the visitors on Saturday to the Ballina Oval for the latest round in the Connacht Cricket Union Division 1 League.
Ballina won the toss and skipper Chris O’Neill elected to bat first. The Ballina batters found themselves in trouble, putting up 52 runs for 6 wickets after 15 overs. However, the tail dug in well and put on 74 runs for the final four wickets, leaving the home team with a sporting total of 126 to defend. Blany Fernandes with 32 and Damian Schwarz posting 21 were the pick of the run scorers.
In reply, Ballyhaunis were cruising at 77 for 1 in the 15th over, and things looked bleak for the home team, the total of 126 seemed to be very reachable. However things changed very rapidly when the Ballina bowlers found their accuracy and took a staggering 7 wickets in just 6 overs, leaving the visitors to collapse to 97 all out.
Chief destroyer Pavittar Rathaur took four wickets for a return of only 8 runs, an outstanding display from one of Ballina’s finest with a cricket ball. Manu Devassy took 3 wickets for 18 runs and Jineesh Chacko chipped in with 2 for 18, grabbing the vital wickets for a brilliantly thrilling team victory for Ballina by 29 runs.
