Dunlop moves into top 10 after 19th senior ton

Eight Division 2 matches have taken place in the last two weeks, with Leinster (three wins) getting through that period as the one unbeaten team, and Balbriggan (two losses) the only one to fail to register a win. Those two teams have been the main changes to the league table, with Leinster dragging themselves up into the promotion race, and Balbriggan sinking into the relegation battle with YMCA 2.

For a complete look at how Division 2 has been panning out over the last fortnight, Eddie Lewis's round up can be read here.

Surprisingly, those eight matches haven't made much of a difference to the Division 2 averages, with no change in the leader in any of the five categories - with the exception of wicket keeping.

Highest Batting average in Division 2 - (current qualification - 250 runs) 

The main innings of last week, was by a batsman who finished on the losing side, and who is only at number 10 in the batting averages. Angus Dunlop, holder of 114 caps for Ireland, scored his 19th senior century in Leinster cricket, with his 115* coming off only 73 balls, including 37 off the 26th over of the innings. YMCA 2 were dismissed for only 172, with Dunlop scoring 66.9% of the runs.

Only Andre Botha (25), Jeremy Bray (24) and Alf Masood (23) have scored more Senior centuries than Dunlop.

There were five other Division 2 centurions in the past fortnight.  Ben Speake (135) and Kenny McDonald (114) added 209 for Terenure's 2nd wicket against Balbriggan, a crucial contribution in Terenure's 119 run win. Balbriggan's Muhammad Farrukh responded with 113, but it proved in vain.

Michael Hogan scored his maiden senior hundred, scoring 104 against his old club, as Leinster beat Terenure. Finally, Shahid Iqbal scored his seventh senior ton, with 128 as Rush beat YMCA 2.

Samuel Anderson heads the averages with 578 runs at 52.55, but the leading Irish qualified player is Iqbal, with 342 runs at 48.86.

Lowest Bowling average in Division 2 - (Current Qualification - 17 wkts)

Leinster bowlers have dominated the last fortnight. As they played three matches, they would expect to have provided the highest wicket takers in that period, but they also had three of the four players to take four wickets in an innings.

Conor O'Gorman took 5-40 (his career best in senior cricket) as Leinster beat Terenure. It was Bilal Azhar's turn when Leinster beat YMCA 2 - his 4-33 was his best of the season. And Joe Carroll took 4-15 as Leinster surprised The Hills in a T20 refix, the 10th time Carroll has taken four wickets or more in senior cricket.

The fourth player was Phoenix's Richard Lawrence, who returned 4-28 as Phoenix beat Balbriggan. It is another Phoenix player, Matt Lunson who remains top of the pile, although he has not played since our last set of averages, and may need to take more wickets to reach the final qualifying mark. Joe Carroll lurks just behind should Lunson not return.

Most Catches by a fielder in Division 2

Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin and Mike Baumgart remain the leading eligible contenders.

Most dismissals by a wicket keeper in Division 2

Plenty of changes in the seacrh for the leading wicket keeper (or at least the wicket keeper with the most dismissals!). Alistair Taylor took two catches and three stumpings in Phoenix's two games, to move to 17. As he is not eligible for Ireland, Terenure's Michael Cotter is the leading keeper eligible for the trophy.  

Leading allrounder in Division 2 - (Qualification 125 runs and 8 wickets/dismissals. 1 pt for each run, 20 pts for each wkt, ctch or stmp)

Joe Carroll's lead is begining to look unassailable. Shahid Iqbal is the next eligible contender, but he is now over 300 points behind.