COLERAINE took a stranglehold on the League Five Cup final after a dominant opening day, with Amy Caulfield claiming a hat-trick and skipper Neil Morrison leading the way with the bat.

Morrison and Jonathan Elder laid the platform with an outstanding opening stand of 128 as Coleraine piled up 238-5 from their 30 overs.

Captain Morrison struck nine fours and a six in an excellent 73 from 67 balls, while Elder made 59 from 47 deliveries, including seven fours and a maximum.

Fox Lodge finally broke through when Elder fell to Aiken, before Morrison departed at 154, but Coleraine continued to score freely.

Sachin Varghese finished unbeaten on 27, while Greg Jordan contributed 24 from just 14 balls.

Fox Lodge initially appeared capable of mounting a strong reply as William McGarrigle made 47 and Garvin Heywood 27 in an opening partnership of 93.

Their dismissals, however, sparked a dramatic collapse. From 93 without loss, Fox Lodge slumped to 105-5 before eventually being dismissed for 133, handing Coleraine a commanding 105-run first-innings advantage.

Caulfield provided the highlight with a superb spell of 4-17, completing her hat-trick by removing Harry Donaldson and Riley Milligan with successive deliveries before dismissing Matthew Robinson with the first ball of her next over.

Greg Jordan took 2-27 and Nimal Chacko Rintu 2-26 as Fox Lodge’s innings unravelled.

Coleraine then tightened their grip by reaching 115-2 from 20 overs in their second innings. Morrison again led from the front with 51, sharing a 94-run second-wicket partnership with Caulfield, who completed a memorable personal day by finishing unbeaten on 42.

Coleraine therefore take an imposing overall lead of 220 runs into day two with ten overs still to bat, leaving Fox Lodge needing something extraordinary to turn the final around.

LEAGUE FIVE CUP FINAL DAY ONE
Coleraine 3rd XI lead Fox Lodge 3rd XI by 220 runs. 
Coleraine 3rd XI 238-5 (30 overs; Neil Morrison 73, Jonathan Elder 59, Sachin Varghese 27*, Greg Jordan 24, Ethan Darragh 21; WR McGarrigle 2-36, Daniel Salter 2-45) and 115-2 (20 overs; Neil Morrison 51, Amy Caulfield 42*)
Fox Lodge 3rd XI 133 (28.1 overs; William McGarrigle 47, Garvin Heywood 27, Daniel Salter 25*; Amy Caulfield 4-17, Nimal Rintu 2-26, Greg Jordan 2-27).