MERRION OVERCOME CLONTARF IN EMPHATIC STYLE - SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP

Merrion were the big winners at the top end of the table this evening, as they romped to a 76-run victory against Clontarf to take advantage of some no-results among the league leaders.

Having lost the toss, Merrion were asked to bat first, and a breezy 32 from Bella Armstrong saw 7 boundaries before the first rain interval, which saw the game reduced to 12 overs, before a further stoppage brought things down to just 11 overs aside.

When the sides returned, Armstrong was dismissed without adding to her total, bringing Rebecca Stokell to the crease to join Annabel Squires.

The pair took advantage of some difficult bowling conditions to add 112 for the second wicket, with Squires top scoring, unbeaten on 42, whilst Stokell was also not out, making 41.

When the chase began, Clontarf couldn't get themselves up with the prohibitive rate early on, and in spite of 41 for Christina Coulter-Reilly and an unbeaten 25 for Julie McNally, they could manage only 78/3 in their 11 overs.

Elsewhere, the only other result saw The Hills being bowled out for just 65 thanks to three wickets for each of Marisa Curtis and Madison Landsman. Abbi Harrison top scored with 22 for the home side. Lara Maritz's 36 and Ella Marsh's 24 were the two unbeaten scores as Balbriggan overcame an early burst from The Hills' left-arm speedster Erin Carroll, who took 2/15, to secure an 8 wicket victory.

In both the Phoenix Park and Kenure, the fixtures were called off without a toss even taking place as the early rain put paid to any chances of play in both grounds.