Pembroke Secure Victory Thanks to Lethal Lawson
It was dramatic to the very end, but Pembroke came out on top, beating The Hills by 16-runs in the Premier League Game of the Day at Sydney Parade.
Daya Singh played exceptionally for his 87 and Lorcan Tucker made a wonderful 59 but in the final reckoning, Paul Lawson’s 33 not out and 3-26 off 8 overs were vital in sealing the home side’s win.
Not to mention the 12 penalty runs for The Hills slow bowling rate, but more of that anon.
After choosing to bowl first, Nic Pretorius’ was backed up by Max Sorenson (1-19) and Nazeer Shoukat (1-7) in the first 12 overs. Fiachra Tucker edged a Sorensen delivery to Pretorius at first slip while brother Diarmuid, feathered through to Donegan behind the stumps.
Lorcan Tucker played some lovely shots all around the ground in his 59 off 85 deliveries, including seven boundaries, as he sought to anchor the home side’s innings. Unfortunately, when he played on in the 32nd over, Pembroke were 130/5 with all their top order back in the shed.
After Josh Little offered up a straight forward caught and bowled to Albert van der Merwe and Daya Singh ran Ben Hoey out for 3, Pembroke were 150/7 with 10 overs remaining.
Jack Balbirnie (14) added 27 with Paul Lawson before van der Merwe took a fine catch at long leg to dismiss him. Lawson was in rare form with the bat however. He hit five boundaries in his 33 not out, the first time he’s passed 20 this season he said after the game.
These were vital runs as Pembroke added 60 in the final ten overs. Not all these came off the bat either. The Hills had been slow throughout their bowling innings and just as the 47th over began, the umpires added 12 penalty runs. Vital runs in the end as Pembroke made 210/9 off their allocation.
Alex Ridley took two wickets in his second over to set The Hills back in their chase as it got started. Donegan and Pretorius caught at mid-wicket and behind.
Daya Singh (87) was the main man for The Hills in their chase. He was part of fifty partnerships for the third and fourth wicket with Albert van der Merwe (28) and then Max Sorensen (15) as the visitors moved to 130/4 with the best part of 20 overs remaining.
Singh smashed three 6s in his innings, while sweeping and cutting at will in an excellent display. At the other end he was losing partners however, as next Shoukat departed and then Rooney-Murphy (18) picked out Ridley at mid-off.
Despite all that, with five overs remaining The Hills needed just 28 runs. However, Singh got under a Balbirnie full toss and Fiachra Tucker gleefully held on at long-on, and the momentum swung firmly towards the home side.
Lawson took his third wicket when, having already deceived Archer in the air once, Lorcan Tucker made the stumping and The Hills were 9 down needing 20 off 13 balls.
It was left to Alex Ridley to put the seal on victory as his full and straight yorker bowled Clinton and Pembroke had won by 16 runs.
Mason Alexander LHW Financial Planning Premier League
At Sydney Parade;
Pembroke 210/9 50 overs (L Tucker 59, P Lawson 33*; A vd Merwe 3-30)
The Hills 194 a/o 48.5 overs (D Singh 87; P Lawson 3-26, A Ridley 3-34)
Pembroke win by 16 runs