CL FUTURES START WITH A WIN - JULY 26TH

It was a positive start to the Future Series for the Leinster side this afternoon, as they kicked off their campaign with an excellent 7-wicket win against the NCU in Oak Hill.

Leinster skipper Annabel Squires won the toss and elected to bowl first, and the game started well, as Zara Craig and Lucy Barry both struck in their respective first overs, the latter taking the key wicket of Abbi Harrison.

NCU had reached 44/2 at the end of their PowerPlay, before Leinster's leg-spin duo of Aisling Lawlor and Ellie McGee set about their business. The pair bowled an excellent spell of 8 overs, conceding just 29 runs and putting the hosts back on top.

Gemma Sargent broke the key partnership, and from there, a further wicket for each of Barry and Craig saw only 13 runs conceded in the last three overs, as the NCU set a target of 118 for victory.

Lucy Barry (2/14) and Zara Craig (2/32) proved to be the pick of the bowlers for the home side.

The chase saw Squires accompanied by Aimee Maguire, and the pair added a stand of 40 inside the opening 6 overs, before the skipper was dismissed LBW for 20. This brought Alice Tector to the crease, and the pair added 58 for the third wicket, before the Phoenix batter was dismissed for 18.

Aimee Maguire moved to a well-compiled 50 from just 41 balls including six fours, before being dismissed for 51 with just one run needed for victory. Zara Craig's unbeaten 12 ensuring the side got over the line off the first ball of the 16th over, with 7 wickets in hand.