PEMBROKE CLOSING IN ON TITLE - SPRINT COATINGS DIVISION ONE MATCH DAY 10 (AUGUST 1ST)

This evening's action in Sprint Coatings Division One saw full points victories for Pembroke, Leinster & Clontarf, as The Hills saw off Merrion in a slightly closer affair.

The end result being that the Sydney Parade outfit have moved a step closer to securing their league title for the 2024 season, as the side look to round off a quite brilliant unbeaten season in style.

The first, and by a distance most remarkable, result of the evening came from Observatory Lane, where the whole game was finished inside 14 overs. Malahide batted first, and a sensational opening spell between Ava Canning (3/5) and Katie Dillon (4/8) helped knock the visitors over for 16, Beth Deacon's 6* the only batter not to make either 0 or 1. The chase took just 4 overs, as Clare Webber and Rebecca Rolfe knocked off the runs without fuss in a 10 wicket win.

Pembroke's 25 points this evening came thanks to a 9 wicket victory against Balbriggan at home, with their visitors batting first on a perfect evening to do so. Much like last week, Balbriggan stuttered and faltered, however at 38/4 Lara Maritz came to the crease, and struck 47 from just 29 balls to guide the side away from a collapse and up to 100. There were two wickets for each of Kimli McDonald, Sarah Forbes, Vanshika Shukla and Georgia Beatty in a fine all-round bowling performance from the champions elect. Forbes was dominant in the chase, sharing an opening stand of 64 with Isobel Jennings who made 23 before falling LBW, with Shauna Kavanagh adding the final 37 needed for victory alongside Forbes, as the opener remained unbeaten on 45 in a 9 wicket win.

The third full points victory went to a side that batted first, as Clontarf took full advantage of their top three being at full tilt to pile on 177/4 in their 20 overs. Christina Coulter-Reilly and Robyn Searle shared an opening stand of 108, before the South African fell for 35. Coulter-Reilly was joined by Una Raymond-Hoey, and the pair added 25 in the next 14 balls before the opener fell for 60. That however saw Raymond-Hoey taking over, as scored the bulk of the runs in the final 4 overs before being dismissed for 48 from just 24 balls with one ball left in the innings. Phoenix's chase never got going, however one big cause for optimism is no doubt Zara Craig's unbeaten 45 from their final total of 88/7. Sinead Thomson was the pick of the bowlers for 'Tarf, taking 3/20, whilst Emma Butler also took 2/17 in her four overs.

Finally in Anglesea Road, Merrion batted first and made 108/4 in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to an unbeaten 41 from Aoife Brennan, whilst skipper Celeste Raack made 28 at the top of the order. Tara O'Brien was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, taking 2/17, whilst there were also one apiece for Jane Maguire and Chloe Ericson. The Hills chase was complete inside 16 overs, as in spite of two wickets for each of Maddie Blazely and Isabel Light, an unbeaten 55 from Tahlia Dunne featuring 7 fours in just 42 balls guided the side to a 6 wicket victory.