North County defeated Pembroke by 140 runs on a surprisingly sun-kissed afternoon in Fingal. Malcolm Nofal’s 160 and 4-29 from Adam Coughlan saw the home side to victory.
Overseas professional Nofal’s 159-run partnership with his captain Niall McGovern (73) helped the home side post 299/8. Striking 13 boundaries and bludgeoning 8 maximums all round the ground, Nofal was in supreme form.
He displayed his power in flicking off his pads for 6, before muscling a straight 6 not only out of the ground but across the road too, landing in the trees beyond.
Aside from Nofal and McGovern, only Tomas Sheil (20) got into double figures. He looked to be the perfect foil for Nofal until Ben Hoey took an outstanding catch to dismiss Sheil. The ball looked to looping just over his head at mid-wicket, but he somehow arched his back and made the grab.
Jack Balbirnie held on to a towering catch to dismiss the South African with one ball left in the innings but by then the damage had been done.
North County had put on 299/8, however as Pembroke captain Fiachra Tucker said after the game, “we certainly felt well in the game at that point. 280/300 is probably a par score on that track”.
In order for Pembroke to chase down the target of 6 runs an over, they needed to start well and stay up with the run rate. Conor Sheil had no joy in his first three overs but by switching to bowl from the road end, he struck first ball having Fiachra Tucker caught behind by Jamie Grassi.
Ben Hoey and Theo Lawson then fell to identical dismissals, caught at deep fine leg, in successive overs and Pembroke were 43/3 after 10 overs and already behind the run rate.
Craig May held on to his second good catch in the deep to dismiss Andrew Balbirnie (22) and with Pembroke 4 down the tie was beginning to slip away from them.
Adam Coughlan picked up his first wicket when JJ Garth was caught on the crease before he and Nofal bowled 10 overs in tandem, conceding just 30 runs.
Two in two balls in the 30 th over for Adam Coughlan left Pembroke 109/7 and looking to see out their overs.
In the 43 rd over there was a moment of celebration for Pembroke as Jack Balbirnie hooked a massive 6 onto the road at fine leg. He and his balcony celebrated his half-century, although he may already have been on 50* before the six.
That was to be it for Pembroke though as in the very next over, that man Malcolm Nofal dismissed Jack Balbirnie by taking a return catch and sealing a 140-run victory for North County.
“Malcolm has been brilliant since he’s been here,” said McGovern after the match. “That’s why he is our professional and he batted so well today.
“Very happy with Adam Coughlan too. I spoke to you last time about how well he has been bowling and today he got his rewards with the four wickets.
Mason Alexander LHW Financial Planning Premier League
At Inch;
North County 299/8 (M Nofal 160, N McGovern 73; G Hoey 3-39)
Pembroke 159 a/o (J Balbirnie 61; A Coughlan 4-29)
North County win by 140 runs