IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP (MAY 2ND)

There were wins for Pembroke, Clontarf, Malahide, Balbriggan, Merrion & North County in the IBI Corporate Finance Premier League, as four sides kept up their winning run into the third game of the season.

The first result of the day saw Malahide picking up their first win of the season, as fine all-round efforts from Jeremy Martins and Mike Frost propelled them to a comprehensive victory against Leinster. Martins' 3/24 led the way whilst Frost took 3/31, whilst Leinster ultimately did well to scramble to 132 all out having been 77/8, although that did see them collapse from 68/2 in the first instance. Malahide too wobbled, having been 46/3, however an unbeaten 48 from Martins, accompanied by 30 from Frost saw them to a 6 wicket win with more than half their overs to spare.

In Jack Harper Park, an excellent spell of 3/17 in 10 overs for Ruan Strauss, as well as two wickets apiece for Jordan Hollard, Matt Hollard and Seb De Oliveira saw Phoenix bowled out for 189, as Amish Sidhu's 41 saw him top score, with support from Levon Shields and James Maginnis who both made 30s. Balbriggan's run chase was clinical in nature, as a quick start of 23 from Connor Fletcher set the platform for Ghanim Dara, who struck four boundaries and a maximum in his 75-ball 51. When he was dismissed however Chris de Freitas took control, making 59 as his side cruised to a 6 wicket victory with 17 overs to spare, condemning Phoenix to their second successive defeat.

Pembroke were dominant with the bat in Kenure, piling up 383/8 in their 50 overs, thanks primarily to 106 from just 64 deliveries, including nine fours and five sixes. That was built off a platform of half-centuries from JJ Garth and Harry Tector, whilst Lorcan Tucker and Gavin Hoey both made rapid 40s. Two wickets each for Alex Neary, Asher Abbasi and Isaac Bird prevented things from getting completely out of control. Byron McDonough dismissed Bird, whilst Sherriff continued his good day with the big wicket of Abid Taniwal, as Rush were all out for 185, as an excellent all-round performance saw two wickets for each of Sherriff, McDonough, Luke Murray, Gavin Hoey and Harry Tector.

Clontarf were indebted to half-centuries from opener Séamus Lynch and number 7 Andrew Delany, who was unbeaten at the end of their 50 overs marshalling the side to 240/8. Two wickets for each of Liam McCarthy, Farman Afridi and Srihan Karpe had earlier helped Railway peg back a decent start for 'Tarf, as they were in precarious spots at 134/5 and 156/8. A half-century from Abhay Tipnis was the bright spot, making 71 for the visitors in the chase, however they were ultimately all out for 187, as the injured Philippe le Roux was unable to bat.

Merrion piled up 380/5 in Anglesea Road, thanks to 140 from Swapnil Modgill, who shared stands of 124 with Stephen Doheny (41) and 111 with Seb Dijkstra (62), before 60 from just 32 deliveries from John Anderson and 45* off 15 deliveries for Corne Botha boosted the score in the final 10 overs, including adding 62 in the last 24 deliveries. 50 for Deepak Jayachandran led the way for Service, however only Hedayat Khogiani and Edson Silva could pass 20, with Andrew Doheny once again in the wickets at the back-end, taking 3/10 as the visitors were all out for 172.

Finally, North County were successful in their trip to The Mardyke, indebted to a fine all-round day from Eddie Richardson, who made 51 to guide the side to 163 all out in the final of their 45 overs, before claiming 3/16, including the key wickets of Hartill and Upman to put his side in the box seat. Alan Joseph Mathew claimed the exact same figures, whilst Brandon Morris took 2/8 in skittling the hosts for 76 and earning an 87 run victory.