Macbeth brothers taste North West Cup glory with Brigade

Ballindrait brothers Ryan and Scott Macbeth helped Brigade to win the North West Senior Cup at the weekend.

Brigade clinched the Cup for the fourth time in six years at Eglinton after a rain-interrupted weekend.

Scott Macbeth joined older brother Ryan at the Beechgrove side earlier this year and the Donegal men were central to the victory.

In Friday’s opening innings, Ryan Macbeth turned the tide in Brigade’s favour in emphatic fashion. With the final four balls of the day, Macbeth hit three sixes and a four off the bowls of Hanu Viljoen, Newbuildings’ professional.

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That haul by Macbeth gave Brigade a firm command as they took a 55-run lead into the second innings after dismissing Newbuildings for 178.

In the opening Innings, Ryan Macbeth (2-14) claimed two wickets with Scott taking three four (4-32).

Ryan accounted for Gareth McKeegan in the second innings with Scott taking out Viljoen and Hanna, via a lbw.

Andy Britton, the Brigade captain, gave a superb display of bowling in the second innings, going 5-18 with the ball and leaving Newbuildings on 114-9 when heavy rainfall hit.

With Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in place Brigade needed only 37 runs to win inside 20 overs and they duly obliged, ensuring a memorable weekend for the Macbeths.

Scott moved to Brigade earlier this year from Bready with Ryan lining out at the Limavady Road side since 2016.

Captain Britton said: “Bringing in Scott this year was massive, even in the changing room he is a big player, him and Ryan you know what you are getting. They train with us twice a week, train with Warriors put everything into it and you can see the difference.”

This Sunday, Brigade host Balbriggan in the semi-final of the All-Iceland T20 Cup.