The Fantasy league endurance race goes on as the figures get manipulated again and again in an effort to give you more to look at, more articles for the cricketleinster website and more writing for the author.
We start this multi-part review with Division 16. Carlow were crowned champions under the percentage system used in Divisions 5 to 16 with a record of 8 wins, 1 defeat and two no results. They also received 2 walkover wins, perhaps, one might suggest from teams unable to find 11 players, or transport for 11 players, willing to travel to Carlow. These two wins did however end up affecting the final table as although Carlow did finish first, they did not accumulate the highest number of points. That accolade went to Ashbourne, who despite finishing with 6 more points than Carlow ended up 14.45% behind the champions.
Carlow were not alone in the 12 champions in the percentage based leagues not to score the most points. In fact half (half of 12 is 6) of the leagues had winners who did not score the most points. Is this an issue within Leinster cricket? Will the Cricket Leinster OCC be reviewing this issue over the winter? Perhaps the entire point structure needs reviewing, with maybe points for actually playing a game, similar to the fantasy league where just taking to the field gains 10 points.
However, Carlow are champions and with only 1 defeat in their 9 games played, worthy champions. They have three players in the top 10 fantasy point scorers, including second place for R Butt. Ashbourne also had three of the top ten, whilst North Kildare had two, including the top ranked player, A Malhan.
Like a nappy left on far too long, A Malhan is all over these statistics like a rash. As well as topping the overall point scorers, he shares the top of the appearances, beaten in the points per game only by two players with single appearances, second in the runs scored, second in most 50’s, second highest score, most overs bowled, most five wicket hauls, and way ahead in wickets taken.
Division 16 saw 234 players take to the field, although 95 of these only played one or two games.
Division – 16
League Winners – Carlow
Total Points scored in Division – 38,338
Table of Fantasy points scored by team
(Team; Players Used; Total Points) * = champions; # = top point scorers
Top Points
Top Points per Game (matches and points per game)
Top Appearances
Top Runs
These are the only players to have scored more than 300 runs in Division 16 this season.
Top Batting Averages
Six players from six different clubs averaged over 50 in this division.
Most Centuries
8 centuries were scored by six players with S Kant Trikha scoring 37.5% of them.
Most Fifties
42 fifties were recorded by 31 players. Ten were scored by the top three here.
T Bruton Ash 3
M Islam Carl 2
C Katha AIB 2
B Thompson AIB 2
Top Innings Score
Most Ducks
99 players shared 153 ducks. As can be seen Bagenalstown had their fair share.
Most Overs Bowled
Whilst our overall points winner A Malhan tops this category, the Bagenalstown O’Neill family would be the busiest.
Most Five Wicket Hauls
There were 7 five wicket hauls, but with a maximum of 8 overs per bowler it is a feat worth celebrating.
Most Wickets
All of this attention is surely going to mean that A Malhan will be moving up the teams in Kilcock. Another category topped by him, and very convincingly so.
Best Bowling Analysis
Best Bowling Averages
Special mention here for V Baby of Ashbourne, who took 13 wickets at 7.69, whereas the bowlers shown below took one or two wickets only.
Most Catches
Most Stumpings
No-one got more than one stumping in this division and here are the keepers who did get one.
So that is it for Division 16. Many congratulations to A Malhan whom, it seems, was the dominant player in this division and also to Carlow and Ashbourne, new Clubs moving forward. How far forward will depend on the Clubs retaining its players, attracting new players and upgrading its facilities; and on the OCC deciding which division they enter next season.