NO RAIN ON THE ‘PARADE’ AS PEMBROKE REMAIN UNBEATEN!

If there was any senior cricket going to be played anywhere across the province, it was going to be Sydney Parade and so it proved with Pembroke taking on Civil Service in an important IBI Corporate Championship fixture, reduced by adverse weather to 25 overs per side. For Pembroke, this was their chance to finish the first half of the league programme unbeaten (7 from 7) and so it proved.

Batting first, Civil Service were restricted by some tight Pembroke bowling (seven bowlers used) to just 81 all out with 2 balls unused - opener Nilesh Joshi contributed a solid 26 off 37 balls before falling to the experienced Paul Lawson who also removed Dhiraj Shetty for 16 (the only other double-figure score).

The later start coupled with the aborted IP Festival at Bready allowed Gavin Hoey to travel home for the match and he chipped in with 2-13 off his 5 overs as wickets fell at regular intervals. Fiachra & DonnchaTucker closed out the Service innings with excellent combined figures of 3-11 off 4.4 overs.

Fiachra Tucker took 2-6 as part of an excellent team performance in the field

In reply, despite losing the in-form JJ Garth in the first over, Nick Stapleton and Diarmaid Tucker combined to good effect putting on a rapid 43 in just 4.2 overs for the second wicket. The dismissal of Stapleton was followed quickly by Gavin Hoey, both wickets falling to Aamir Bafanda as Pembroke sought to defeat both Service and the inclement weather.

Diarmaid was then joined by his brother Fiachra and the siblings combined to add 24 precious runs in just 3 overs to take Pembroke to within 4 runs of victory. Needless to say Barry Tucker looked on in a relaxed and nonchalant manner! 

Diarmaid Tucker led the Pembroke chase with 29 from just 25 balls

At Sydney Parade:

Civil Service 81 All Out off 24.4 overs (Nilesh Joshi 26; Fiachra Tucker 2-6, Gavin Hoey 2-13, Paul Lawson 2-21)

Pembroke 82-4 off 9.5 overs (Diarmaid Tucker 29, Nick Stapleton 20, Fiachra Tucker 10*; Aamir Bafanda2-13, Mubasher Siddique 2-37)

Pembroke won by 6 wickets on DLS