IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP (AUGUST 25TH)

This afternoon's IBI Corporate Finance Premier League & Championship cricket saw just two results in the Premier League from the three scheduled fixtures. As the Championship tie between The Hills and Railway Union was called off early this morning with water lying on the square from the rain in the previous two days.

In Sydney Parade, Malahide batted first, and Pembroke were on top from the outset, Harry Tector, Nick Stapleton & Byron McDonough bowling an extremely tight spell across the first 20 overs, Tector running out Adam Doyle with an excellent direct hit run out, before McDonough's spell of 3/12 reduced Malahide to 43/4. There was some resistance as the score reached 67 before the next wicket fell, however four wickets for Gavin Hoey cost him just 17 runs, with Paul Lawson picking up the final wicket to knock Malahide over for 106 in the 39th over of the innings.

Pembroke's chase saw 10 overs happening before tea, with the early breakthrough for Malahide seeing Diarmaid Tucker caught off Mike Frost for just 7. Tim Tector and JJ Garth guided the score to 51/1 after 10 overs, putting the home side right in the ascendency at tea. Garth holed out to Martins on the long-off boundary off the bowling of Frost for 23, bringing Harry Tector to the crease to join brother Tim. 'Tiger' brought up his half-century with a tuck off his hip, eventually finishing unbeaten on 57 from just 51 balls, including 7 boundaries, guiding the side to an 8 wicket victory with 30 overs to spare.

In Castle Avenue, Clontarf batted first and made their way to a decent total of 250/4 in their 50 overs, as there were two wickets apiece for Melvin Devaraj and Sam Harbinson restrained the back end of the home side's innings. David Vincent was the top scorer, with 91, sharing a century stand for the second wicket with David Delany who made 70. John McNally's 47 helped guide the team through the final 10 overs to their finishing total. Merrion always stayed ahead of the game, Adam Rosslee's early 32 getting them off to a good start, however he ultimately played second fiddle to fellow opener Swapnil Modgill who top scored with 69.

John Anderson anchored the remained of the chase, making an unbeaten 62 from 79 deliveries, sharing partnerships with Sam Harbinson (28), Pete Francis (41) and Mike Lewis (12*) as Merrion's chase was complete inside 43 overs, seeing them match Pembroke's 24 point haul and retain a 12.5 point advantage at the top of the table.