NAIL BITING FINISH AT THE VILLAGE!

Pembroke have this evening elevated themselves to the summit of the BUAKIT Premier League with a nail biting 2 wicket win over Malahide.

With just one ball remaining spare in the Pembroke innings, Paul Lawson struck a boundary off the bowling of James Newland - Saturday’s final ball 6 hitting hero - to secure his side a two wicket victory.

Earlier in the evening, Malahide had won the toss and elected to bat first. But an opening burst from Barry McCarthy as well as a wicket for each of Gavin Hoey and Paul Lawson reduced the home side to 32/4.

A run-a-ball partnership of 62 between Ali Frost and Fintan McAllister saw Malahide back into the game, before Hoey and McCarthy returned.

The Irish international seamer returned figures of 3/21, whilst Hoey went one better with his leg-breaks claiming 4/15 in four overs, as Malahide were bowled out with 2 balls to spare. Ali Frost’s 38 the highlight of the innings for the home side.

Pembroke’s chase set off like a rocket, Danny Hogan making 35 from 17 balls and dominating an opening partnership of 58 with Gavin Hoey in just 6.2 overs.

When he and Hoey (24) fell ten runs apart, Mike Frost (2/21) and Keith Reynolds (3/20) combined to squeeze Pembroke and force a collapse to 84/7.

JJ Garth then made a crucial 24, sharing a partnership of 23 with Scott Ruttle which saw them to the brink of victory.

When Garth was dismissed with just three needed to win, it was left to Lawson to keep his cool and hit the necessary boundary in the final over to move Pembroke to the top of the league.

AT MALAHIDE
MALAHIDE - 109/10, 19.4 overs (A Frost 38; G Hoey 4/15, B McCarthy 3/21)
lost to
PEMBROKE - 112/8, 19.5 overs (D Hogan 35, JJ Garth 24, G Hoey 24; K Reynolds 3/20, M Frost 2/21)
By 2 Wickets