The division 1 table is beautifully poised, with the eight teams entering the home straight - all knowing what they have to do. The weekend's four completed matches all went according to league position, but the spanner was thrown in the works yesterday, when the Clontarf/Pembroke match, a refix from the originally rained off match in late July, was a victim to the torrential rain yesterday. Both sides received eight points.
On Saturday, a fine all round performance from Clontarf finally put an end to YMCA's title aspirations for 2015. Joe Morrissey took 3-33 and Alex Cusack 4-28 (NB The Clontarf bowling figures are in the process of being confirmed, as there is an error in the published card) as YMCA never got going. Simmi Singh top scored with 48, and Harry Tector reutrned his highest score for YM 1 - 36*, but it was never going to be enough. Mark Collier and Bill Coghlan added 155 for the opening wicket to put the result beyond doubt, and to give Clontarf maximum points, with a nine wicket win. That was the highest opening partnership in Senior cricket since our complete records began in 2011, and only the fourth 100+ partnership for the opening wicket in that period. It was the 5th highest Division 1 1st wicket partnership since Division 1 started in 2011.
North County won again, and are very much in the title shake up. Dharam Singh scored his highest score for Railway Union 1 - 44, but that was the only score of note in a disappointing Railway total of 146 all out. Eddie Richardson took antoerh three wickets - 3-20, which was the fifth time he has taken three wickets this season. It didn't all go North County's way after that, and it required a 75 run partnership for the 3rd wicket between Brenton Parchment (33) and Conor Armstong (54) to settle any North County nerves. Rachit Gaur cotinued his excellent season with the ball with 3-42.
Merrion's excellent end to the season continued, as they brushed aside Cork County with a 7 wicket win in Anglesea Road. Wickets were shared around, as Cork County totalled only 158. Ross Durity top scored with 30 and David Rhoda took 3-23. As with the Clontarf chase, this was never going to be enough, with Robin Smith scoring his fourth league 50 (55) and skipper Rory Allwright scoring 42 - his highest score for Merrion 1 since June 2011.
In the final match, Malahide almost snatched a crucial victory against Pembroke, but it wasn't to be. In pursuit of Pembroke's 204ao, it looked to be all over at 163-9. But a last wicket partnership between Pete Saville (17*) and Alessandro Morris (25) got the Villagers desperately close - losing by 2 runs. Earlier Pembroke did well to get to 204 after being repeatedly in trouble (1-2, 25-3, 110-5, 148-7). Lorcan Tucker, Fiachra Tucker and Jack Balbirnie all made crucial contributions at the bottom of the order. It was the 11th time in the last five seasons that a Malahide Division 1/2/Senior Cup game has been dcided by 1 wicket, or 6 runs or less (and the third this year!)
So where does that leave the league table? At the top, Clontarf have a 8 point lead over Merrion, who are a further 4 points ahead of North County. With such small margins, even bonus points between now and the end of the season could be crucial, but three matches stand out. This Saturday, North County host Merrion; the weekend after Clontarf host North County; and then on the final day of the season, September 12th, Merrion host Clontarf.
At the other end of the table, it is equally tight. Malahide are bottom on 66 points, with Cork County and Railway Union 12 points ahead of them on 78. Railway host Malahide this Saturday, and Malahide simply have to win. Then on the final day of the season, Malahide travel to the Mardyke to take on Cork County. There promises to be plenty of excitement over the next few weeks.
Highest Batting average in Division 1 - Marchant Cup (current qualification - 400 runs)
Adrian D'Arcy continues to lead, but maybe for not much longer. At the end of the season, the Marchant Cup must be won by someone who scres 500 runs or more (which can be reduced should no one make the mark). The several players already past that mark, D'Arcy needs at least another 60 more runs. Unfortunately, he has now returned to rugby, and looks unlikley to qualify. That leaves a group of players, who all have an excellent chance, led by Jack Tector.
# | Name | Club | Inn | NO | HS | 50 | 100 | 4s | 6s | Dks | SR | Runs | Avg |
1 | A D'Arcy | Tarf | 9 | 6 | 114* | 2 | 1 | 55 | 7 | - | 75.73 | 440 | 146.67 |
2 | D Rhoda * | Merr | 10 | 5 | 119* | 2 | 2 | 61 | 9 | - | 91.16 | 557 | 111.40 |
3 | J Tector | YMCA | 13 | 2 | 135* | 1 | 3 | 63 | - | 3 | 70.73 | 568 | 51.64 |
4 | A Poynter | Tarf | 12 | 3 | 111* | 2 | 2 | 59 | 9 | 1 | 97.03 | 457 | 50.78 |
5 | Simranjit Singh | YMCA | 14 | 2 | 140 | - | 3 | 68 | 7 | - | 83.18 | 549 | 45.75 |
6 | T Fisher | YMCA | 14 | - | 116 | 3 | 2 | 66 | 2 | 2 | 68.42 | 639 | 45.64 |
7 | L Tucker | Pemb | 12 | - | 132 | 3 | 1 | 64 | 6 | 1 | 73.18 | 543 | 45.25 |
8 | F McAllister | Mal | 13 | 2 | 124* | 1 | 2 | 50 | 1 | - | 58.47 | 490 | 44.55 |
9 | S Grobler * | Cork | 13 | 1 | 95 | 5 | - | 59 | 3 | - | 71.08 | 531 | 44.25 |
10 | A Van der Merwe | YMCA | 15 | 3 | 90 | 2 | - | 47 | 9 | 1 | 66.08 | 489 | 40.75 |
11 | B Parchment * | NC | 13 | 1 | 82 | 2 | - | 53 | 8 | - | 80.52 | 405 | 33.75 |
Lowest Bowling average in Division 1 - O'Grady Cup (Current Qualification - 20 wkts)
As with the Marchant Cup, the O'Grady Cup needs a bowler to take 30 wickets - and Eddie Richardson has already passed that mark. With three games, anyone chasing Eddie will need to take lots of wickets, and at a very low average to catch him. Richardson is a very strong favourite.
# | Name | Club | Overs | Maid | RunsA | BBowl | 5I | Econ | SR | Wkt | Avg |
1 | Eddie Richardson | NC | 102.3 | 16 | 358 | 5-29 | 1 | 3.49 | 20.50 | 30 | 11.93 |
2 | A Cusack | Tarf | 73.4 | 14 | 254 | 4-21 | - | 3.45 | 22.10 | 20 | 12.70 |
3 | M Granger * | Tarf | 114.1 | 20 | 497 | 5-24 | 4 | 4.35 | 19.57 | 35 | 14.20 |
4 | J Morrissey | Tarf | 102.1 | 22 | 342 | 5-74 | 1 | 3.35 | 26.65 | 23 | 14.87 |
5 | D Rhoda * | Merr | 81 | 4 | 327 | 5-29 | 1 | 4.04 | 24.30 | 20 | 16.35 |
6 | J Cook * | Pemb | 107 | 26 | 362 | 4-41 | - | 3.38 | 29.18 | 22 | 16.45 |
7 | R Gaur * | RU | 88.3 | 5 | 359 | 4-10 | - | 4.06 | 25.29 | 21 | 17.10 |
8 | B Parchment * | NC | 99.2 | 10 | 407 | 3-22 | - | 4.10 | 29.80 | 20 | 20.35 |
9 | Y Ali | YMCA | 142.4 | 9 | 585 | 5-36 | 1 | 4.10 | 31.70 | 27 | 21.67 |
10 | Simranjit Singh | YMCA | 141.2 | 23 | 560 | 3-25 | - | 3.96 | 38.55 | 22 | 25.45 |
Most Catches by a fielder in Division 1 - Solomon Cup
# | Name | Club | Mts | Ct |
1 | A Van der Merwe | YMCA | 15 | 11 |
2 | A Poynter | Tarf | 13 | 10 |
3 | Simranjit Singh | YMCA | 15 | 8 |
4 | M Junaid Amin | Cork | 10 | 8 |
5 | E Delany | Tarf | 14 | 7 |
6 | Alan Reynolds | Mal | 8 | 7 |
7 | B Coghlan | Tarf | 12 | 7 |
8 | L Bester * | Merr | 10 | 7 |
Most dismissals by a wicket keeper in Division 1 - Hopkins Cup
Four dismisslas for Lorcan Tucker has him closing the gap on Clontarf's Robert Forrest who still leads by four.
# | Name | Club | Mts | Ct | St | Dismissals |
1 | Robert Forrest | Tarf | 13 | 20 | 6 | 26 |
2 | L Tucker | Pemb | 12 | 16 | 6 | 22 |
3 | R Smith * | Merr | 11 | 13 | 3 | 16 |
4 | F McAllister | Mal | 13 | 8 | 8 | 16 |
5 | D Casey | NC | 11 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
6 | I Coleman | Cork | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
Leading allrounder in Division 1 - Samuels Cup (Qualification 200 runs and 10 wickets/dismissals)
Now we know that the qualification for the Batting and Bowling trophies will be 500 runs and 30 wickets, we know that the qualification for the Allrounder's trophy will be 250 runs and 15 wickets/dismissals.
Most of the top contenders already qualify, although Eddie Richardson needs another 16 runs. However it looks to be between Simmi Singh and Lorcan Tucker
# | Name | Club | Mts | Runs | Wkt | Ct | St | Points |
1 | Simranjit Singh | YMCA | 15 | 549 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 989 |
2 | L Tucker | Pemb | 12 | 543 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 983 |
3 | D Rhoda * | Merr | 10 | 557 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 957 |
4 | Eddie Richardson | NC | 13 | 234 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 834 |
5 | A Van der Merwe | YMCA | 15 | 489 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 829 |
6 | J Cook * | Pemb | 13 | 387 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 827 |
7 | F McAllister | Mal | 13 | 490 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 810 |
8 | B Parchment * | NC | 13 | 405 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 805 |
9 | S Grobler * | Cork | 13 | 531 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 771 |
10 | R Smith * | Merr | 11 | 369 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 689 |
11 | R Strydom | Mal | 12 | 267 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 587 |
12 | M Bauer | Cork | 12 | 267 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 587 |
13 | S Moreton | Tarf | 14 | 286 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 586 |
14 | A Coughlan | NC | 11 | 287 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 567 |
15 | J Anderson | Merr | 11 | 222 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 542 |
16 | Terry Richardson | NC | 9 | 277 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 537 |
17 | C Riches | Mal | 13 | 206 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 506 |