HIGH DRAMA IN SPORTSHUB SENIOR LEAGUE CUP 3.7

A day full of good cricket today in the Sports Hub sponsored Leinster Senior League Cup saw some teams take a giant leap towards qualification, with some others ensuring that their groups go to the final day.

Starting in Group A, YMCA demolished Terenure in a very polished performance, as three wickets apiece for Mikey O’Reilly and Tom Anders for the cost of just 7 and 15 runs respectively, supported by 2/15 from Cillian McDonnell, saw the home side bowled out for just 90 in 18.5 overs, as Danny Wicks’ 42 from 40 balls was the main contribution as they collapsed from 75/4.

In response, Jack Tector and Rory Anders set off like a steam train, taking 13 off the first over. Kenny McDonald’s second over went for just 4 runs, but after that YM struck boundaries almost at will as Tector (43 from 27) and Anders (37 from 19) saw them to a maximum points victory in just 7.3 overs.

The other Group A game was dominated by another opening batter, as Neil Rock’s blistering hundred was the difference between the sides, Rush 179/9 in their 20 overs, as ‘Pebbles’ made 103 off just 54 balls in Observatory Lane. Two wickets apiece for Bilal Azhar, Mark Tonge and Aviral Shukla helping Leinster claw it back, after Rush were 124/1 after 10.3 overs.

In response, Joey Carroll made 47 in Leinster’s 134/5 as no Rush bowler went for more than 7.5 per over, in an excellent all-round display. The pick of the Rush bowlers was Jarred Barnes with 2/22 as a 45 run win has seen Rush keep in the hunt for qualification.

Railway Union and Malahide played out the featured game of the day – unfortunately the game was reduced to just 16 overs a side – Hashir Sultan top scored with 44 as Railway made 72/9 in their allocation. James Newland’s 3/7, supported by 2 wickets for each of David O’Halloran and Callum Riches, were the pick of the bowlers for the home side.

Malahide got off to a flier as Alan Reynolds struck three boundaries in the first over on his way to 38 from just 26 balls saw them chase the runs in just 10.2 overs. Malahide skipper Fintan McAllister spoke to us after the game;
“We’re delighted that our senior players have returned from InterPro duty, performing well and giving the side a good chance of topping the group.

Meanwhile at Castle Avenue, Clontarf managed 176/4 off their 20 overs, captain Bobbo Forrest making 40 at the top of the order, with the innings built around Eoghan Delany’s 53* from 46 balls, before Fionn Hand’s 29 from just 12 balls catapulted them to their final total. Two wickets for Harvey Wootton the pick of the bowlers for the Munster side.

In response, Cork’s reply never really got going, Rudolph Pollard (28) and Joubert Pienaar (32*) were the main contributors to the innings, as two wickets apiece for Ben McCabe and Conor Kelly saw Clontarf keep their visitors to 124/6 and a 55 run victory.

In Group C, Pembroke claimed a 25 point victory with a 9 wicket win over North Kildare. The visitors scored 119/6 from their 20 overs, Josh Uddin making 43, while Monil Patel’s 33 supported him. Two wickets each for Barry McCarthy and Scott Ruttle were the pick of the bowlers.

In response, the elements were always against North Kildare, as Diarmaid Tucker’s 56*, accompanied by Lorcan Tucker’s 54* saw the home side to a 9 wicket victory, the only wicket taken by North Kildare the early run out of Robin Kelly for just 4.

In the other game, Balbriggan managed a three wicket win over Merrion, chasing down their hosts’ 140 with just one ball to spare. A quite brilliant 26 from just 15 balls by Andrew Darroch helping the ‘Brigg to a first victory over Merrion 1. Balbriggan needed 48 from the last 5 overs, but Darroch took a six and a four from Hugh Kennedy in the penultimate over, followed by two boundaries in Tom Stanton’s final over to see them to victory after 19.5 overs.

In Group D, North County saw off The Hills in the local derby, chasing the Skerries side’s total of 130/9 with 15 balls to spare. Mark Donegan’s run-a-ball 34 was the backbone of The Hills’ innings, as four wickets for Eddie Richardson went through their middle order to put County on top.

A brilliant 53* from John Mooney then put County in the driving seat in Group D, as he saw them to 131/5, he was supported by 37 at the top of the order from Niall McGovern, as the pair recovered the home side from 34/4 after Dylan Blignaut’s 3/18 had given The Hills a sniff.

The final game of the day saw Dublin University beat Phoenix by 7 wickets with two balls to spare in the Graham Pasley Trophy. George Dockrell made 44 on his Phoenix debate, but the main man in the innings was Jamie Grassi as he made 56 off 41 balls, along with Louis McDonough’s 45. JJ Walsh’s 3/8 ensuring the late overs runs were kept to a minimum.

In response, Gavin Hoey’s 48* was the key knock as the Students won with two balls to spare. Nicolaas Pretorious had earlier made 45, and there were thirties for Michael and Danny Hogan, as the visitors set up a final day, winner-take-all clash with North County to see who qualifies for the semi-final.