DELANY DOMINATES OPENING NIGHT - SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP
Laura Delany was the dominant force this evening in the SportsHub Premier League as Leinster kicked off their season with what was certainly a romping victory against Balbriggan.
Having won the toss, Balbriggan decided to bowl first, and the decision was initially vindicated, as they dismissed Joanna Loughran and Rebecca Rolfe relatively cheaply. This was, however, as good as it got, as a brisk 24 from Eimear Richardson pulled some momentum back Leinster's way, as she and Delany added 40 for the third wicket.
The dismissal of Richardson saw another 40 run stand between Delany and skipper Ava Canning bring the score to 108, before the former's innings came to an end on 43. Canning powered on, eventually finishing on 36 to boost the Leinster score to 138/6 in their 20 overs, Lara Maritz the only thorn in the Rathmines outfit's side, as she took 2/15 in her four over spell.
The chase was really the tale of two spells of bowling for Leinster. Firstly when Canning shared the new ball with Aussie Karina Bell in the Power Play, Leinster's latest signing nicked Madison Landsman off to Loughran, before proving too pacy on the short ball for Tess Maritz's liking, when she then saw Lara Maritz caught at mid-on by a sliding Rebecca Rolfe, the contest appeared to be over.
Enter Laura Delany, who ensured there was no chance of a Balbriggan fightback, brilliant catches by Bell, one handed at cover, and Loughran, up to the stumps, and three clean bowled deliveries giving her a remarkable effort of 5/2 from her four overs, as Balbriggan were all out for just 50 in the 18th over, seeing Leinster to a huge victory.
Elsewhere, in Malahide, Meg Thompson's debut 74* wasn't enough to drive the home side to victory, as they fell 16 runs short in spite of losing just two wickets in their chase of Phoenix's 140/6. Earlier Arisha Foysal had top-scored for the Senior Cup holders, making 31 with support coming in the shape of Gaby Lewis' 24 seeing Phoenix have just enough for victory.
In Sydney Parade, Pembroke batted first, and after a blazing start by Lou Lou Little, making 23 from just 14 balls, were indebted to Shauna Kavanagh's 29 to get them up to a modest total of 122 before being all out. Two wickets for Alice Walsh and Alyssa Pasley doing the damage for Clontarf. It was again Little who was the gamebreaker in the second innings, dismissing Christina Coulter-Reilly with the first delivery to put Pembroke on the front foot. Julie McNally was the only batter into double figures for the visitors, as two wickets apiece for Mhairi Nicholl, Hannah Little and Kimlin McDonald guided the holders to victory.
Finally in Anglesea Road, The Hills batted first, and Tahlia Dunne was once again in powerful form, making 63 at the top of the order. She had good support from Lara McBride who made 30, whilst the stand out bowler for Merrion was captain Niamh MacNulty, who's 1/17 kept her side in touch. The chase then turned out to be far more straightforward than could be expected, Merrion losing just two wickets as Bella Armstrong's 54 played second fiddle to Rebecca Stokell's unbeaten 61 in a comprehensive 8-wicket victory.
