DELOITTE WIN FIRST 100-BALL BUSINESS LEAGUE – 2023 CHAMPIONS

After 16 matches over 6 weeks, Deloitte were crowned Hundred Ball Business League (HBBL) winners on Tuesday evening at Merrion CC, Anglesea Road. The Final, in front of a large crowd from Deloitte, Glanbia and representatives of other competing companies was the climax of an excellent series of matches over recent weeks.

There were nine entries in all for HBBL 2023 including Grant Thornton (2 teams), PWC, EY, Deloitte, Ergo, Glanbia, KPMG and ESB Networks. And there is already a strong pipeline of enquiries for 2024!

The teams were placed into two groups with each team playing each other once. The format was relatively simple and inclusive, with short exciting cricket for all the aim.

Group A was keenly contested and even included a tied match at Claremont Road between EY and Ergo – in the end, Deloitte & Grant Thornton 1 finished level on points with Deloitte ultimately progressing to the Final having won the head-to-head game between the two companies.

Group B was also highly competitive albeit some games were adversely impacted by the unseasonal July weather. In the end, Glanbia secured their place in the Final having won a tense bowl-out with KPMG in Park Avenue last Friday evening (when conditions were particularly inclement).

In the Final itself, Deloitte won the toss and decided to bowl first. The Glanbia team was boosted with the recent recruitment to the company of Dublin University, Phoenix & Leinster Lightning player, Theo Dempsey.

The scorecard is available here:

https://cricclubs.com/CricketLeinster/viewScorecard.do?matchId=1796&clubId=9638

The Deloitte bowling attack was varied and impressive, taking regular wickets. Credit to Glanbia who made 66 all out in 76 balls. In reply the Deloitte openers continued their strong performance throughout the tournament. Sanjeev Chahar timed his innings brilliantly to hit the winning 6 off his 20th and final delivery.

CL President (Pat Banahan) addressed everyone after the Final, thanking Merrion CC as hosts and congratulating both teams on an excellent, inclusive and fun-based match. Pat then presented medals to both teams and the HBBL trophy to Deloittes as the 2023 Champions.

The captain of the Deloitte team (Baludu Rudrapati) spoke enthusiastically about the tournament:

“It's not just about the cricket, but also the fun element, which was a key differentiator in this format of the game. There is a lot of interest within Deloitte and I'm sure it's going to be going to bigger and even better going forward. I would like to thank all the support that Cricket Leinster has given to organise such a wonderful tournament.”

A Gallery of pictures from the Final is available here:

https://cricketleinsterphotography.pixieset.com/deloittevglanbia-100ballbusinessleague/

There is already considerable interest from other companies in taking part in the 2024 edition of the Hundred Ball Business League and there’s no doubt it will be an expanded feature of the Cricket Leinster programme for some years to come.