ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCH DAY 6 (JUNE 18TH)

Match Day 6 of the ED Sports Premier League sees a shortened round of fixtures taking place, as The Hills, Leinster and league leaders Merrion all have the week off heading into the next double header round on June 27^th.

Thursday’s action sees Clontarf visiting Pembroke in Sydney Parade, whilst in the Park, Phoenix play host to Rush. Finally, in Jack Harper Park, Balbriggan play host to Malahide.

PEMBROKE VS CLONTARF

With Merrion having this week off, Clontarf have the opportunity to leapfrog them and claim the top of the table for a week at least. They welcome Alice Walsh back into the side after she missed last week’s game, and she’ll open the batting alongside Robyn Searle, who is in flying form off the back of 97 in last week’s win against The Hills. Sue Lawless was the other batter in the runs, however she drops out of the side. Genevieve Morrissey and Rosie Neuman-Jones will support that pair, with the latter in particular being in excellent form in recent weeks, skipper Lucy Barry and Hannah Pasley are likely to round out the top 6. Barry leads the way with the ball however is without her usual opening partner in Sinead Thomson this week, and in the absence of a number of their usual frontline performers, it could well mean the attack is led by Neuman-Jones and Searle’s respective off-breaks.

Pembroke meanwhile welcome their skipper Isobel Jennings back into the fray this week, adding depth to the batting line-up which also features Irish international Sarah Forbes, last week’s stars with the bat Susie Whaley and Izzy McLean, the hard-hitting overseas player Marama Downes, and former Irish skipper Laura Delany. With the ball, there’s a whole host of seam bowling options, including Downes who is likely to open the attack alongside KimLi McDonald. Anna Beale and Mhairi Nicoll have been staples of this attack for much of the season, whilst there’s also the option of off-spin from Forbes or McLean, as well as the medium pace of Vanshika Shukla.

Clontarf have been heavily reliant on a good start with the bat this season, and after showing excellent form last week, Robyn Searle is set to be key here once again, if KimLi McDonald can dismiss her early on however, it will put Pembroke into a great position.

KEY BATTLE: KimLi McDonald vs Robyn Searle

BALBRIGGAN VS MALAHIDE

Jack Harper Park sees what looks set to be a hotly contested fixture take place, as third take on fifth here. Balbriggan started the season slightly slowly, not picking up a win until round 3, however they now find themselves having won four in a row and with a great chance to put some pressure upwards in the league. Their batting firepower has been the main accelerant for this success, Lara Maritz and Madison Landsman have succeeded more times than they’ve failed, whilst Julia Hoal has also contributed nicely at the top of the order. Courtney Gounden has shown her abilities with the bat when the opportunity arose, whilst former skipper Tess Maritz has only had cameo features owing to the exploits of the top order. With the ball however is where they are making great strides this term, as the likes of Erin Bond, Erin Knight and Indie Harper have all broken through. This trio proved key in last week’s 8-run win against Phoenix and that added experience can only be a bonus to them.

Malahide meanwhile return from the bye week having actually not yet played a game this month, their last day out being the double header on May 30^th. Meg Thompson and Gemma Sargent are the key for their side at the top of the order, and both will be fully aware of the need to pile up a big early partnership against this Balbriggan attack. The middle order is without key players this week in the continued absence of Freya Sargent, as well as Sarah Condron this time, however with skipper Anna Kerrison, all-rounder Haley Moore, in-form Sorcha O’Carolan-Murphy and clean hitting Emma McMurray, there is still plenty of firepower in the side that could see them causing their hosts some problems. On the bowling front, the absence of Condron leaves something of a hole, however Moore and Sargent should provide good new-ball cover. There’s spin from Kerrison’s off-breaks, whilst medium pacers Isobel McCormack and Maria O’Halloran were both on-song last time out, and could prove key once again today.

Malahide will be fully aware of the need to put pressure on this Balbriggan bowling attack, and if Meg Thompson can dominate the early proceedings against Lara Maritz, this could well be game on.

KEY BATTLE: Lara Maritz vs Meg Thompson

PHOENIX VS RUSH

Finally in the Park, a very interesting clash between Phoenix and Rush takes place. With both teams below them in the table not playing, the Kenure outfit are sure to see this as an opportunity to establish some daylight at the bottom of the table. They will be looking to their top two in the batting order, in the shape of Kiwi Cate Pedersen and skipper Ellie McGee to lead the way and get the side off to a flying start, McGee in particular has shown a liking for finding the ropes in the PowerPlay and that could be key here. Elizabeth Cohr and Aoife Beggs are crucial in the middle order here, as Rush have shown the ability to collapse all too regularly already this term. The bowling will be led by Aisling McCormack, who made a welcome return last week, and Cohr. The O’Donoghue sisters, Mabel and Rebekah, are good medium pace options, the former having starred with four wickets last week. However the star turn in this side is Ellie McGee, who regularly keeps things tight and is set to play a big role in the middle overs once again.

Phoenix meanwhile fell agonisingly short of victory last week against Balbriggan, in spite of a fine knock by Darcey Dalwood who was unbeaten on 51. They welcome wicket-keeper Siúin Woods back into the side this time around, which makes up for the loss of Zara Craig in their batting line-up, and whilst they will have been disappointed not to kick on and win the game, there were encouraging signs of form for Nevedha Saravanarajan and Aditiba Chudasama early on last week. On the bowling front, Dalwood and Chudasama are set to lead the way, having both bowled excellent opening spells last time out. They are without both Craig and Ali Keenan with the ball this time, which could see more opportunities for teenage duo Juliet Gargan and Lily McDonagh. The spin comes from the leggies of Arisha Foysal, who has shown the ability to rip through any batting order which underestimates her bowling.

Rush will be hoping that Cate Pedersen can keep her good form up this week, having been left stranded in last week’s run chase, however if Darcey Dalwood can dismiss her early on, it could put Phoenix in the box-seat.

KEY BATTLE: Darcey Dalwood vs Cate Pedersen

ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH DAY 6 – JUNE 18^TH – ALL 18:00 Start

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke vs Clontarf

At Jack Harper Park, Balbriggan vs Malahide

At Phoenix Park, Phoenix vs Rush