Bonds Glen Seconds edge Erne in epic final to lift League Four Cup

Bonds Glen Seconds completed a memorable weekend for the club as they edged Erne by four runs in a dramatic two-innings League Four Cup final that went all the way to the final delivery.

The gripping contest proved a wonderful advertisement for the two-day final format unique to the North West, with the balance shifting repeatedly before Bonds Glen finally held their nerve.

Bonds Glen had made 214 for five in their first innings, with David Robinson unbeaten on 54, Isaac Beck making 52 and John Long adding 46.

Erne responded with 236 for four to establish a useful 22-run advantage. Lee McNulty struck 60 before Raveesh Gaind took centre stage with a brilliant 79 from 50 balls, including seven sixes. Aswin Soman finished unbeaten on 28.

Bonds Glen therefore had work to do when they began their second innings, but Simon Killen led an aggressive response with 80 from 59 deliveries.

Richard Thompson hammered a typically ebullient 54 from 29 balls, John Long contributed 45 and David Robinson 21 as Bonds Glen were dismissed for 273 from the final ball of their 30 overs. Gaind took three wickets for Erne.

That left the Fermanagh side requiring a formidable chase of 252, made significantly more difficult by skipper Mick Lodge being unable to bat after suffering a serious arm injury while fielding.

Gaind again led from the front with 40 from 25 balls, while Jaydip Suvan struck 43, but Erne looked finished when they slipped to 189 for eight.

Mukesh Mukesh and Ankit Battan had other ideas. With Lodge unable to come in, the pair knew they were effectively Erne's last hope and produced a superb unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 59, helped it must be said by a few dropped catches along the way.

Mukesh finished unbeaten on 34, while Battan blasted an unbeaten 31 from 20 balls, including three sixes, as the target suddenly came within touching distance. It all came down to the final delivery with six needed, but Bonds Glen's experienced Willie Jackson held his nerve to spark jubilant celebrations after Erne finished four short.

Gaind was named Man of the Match after his outstanding all-round contribution across the two days, although he was ultimately denied the trophy. For Bonds Glen, it was another memorable success at the end of a superb weekend and indeed season across the Kildoag Road club, while both sides could take enormous credit for producing a final worthy of the competition.