PEMBROKE GO TOP AS MERRION FALTER - SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP (23RD AUGUST)

A remarkable night of action in the SportsHub Premier League has seen Pembroke leapfrog Merrion at the top of the table as they were one of four points to claim full point victories in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Merrion visited Phoenix in the featured action, with the Park side playing their final game of the season. Having won the toss, the hosts elected to bat, and promptly began battering the ball to all corners of the ground. Alice Tector was initially dominant, getting to 25 quickly, however as soon as Siúin Woods began tucking into the bowling at the other end, Tector was bowled by Ashwi Manoj. This brought Zara Craig to the crease, however Woods didn't stay with her long, caught excellently by Bella Armstrong to be dismissed for 48.

In spite of a fine effort from Craig to marshal proceedings, Phoenix could manage only 38 runs in their final 9 overs, falling victim to no fewer than four run outs, they were indebted to their number three however in seeing them scramble to 129/7, as she finished up with 27 to her name. Aoife Brennan the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, taking 2/18.

Georgina Dempsey had made just one with the bat, and set out intent on making up for this, her opening spell saw Merrion reduced to 13/4 in five overs, eventually finishing with 3/17 from her four overs, putting the hosts in the box seat. Isabel Light put up some resistance for the visitors, however they too managed to develop something of the yips with their running, contributing three run outs from the ten wickets to fall as the league leaders saw their margin obliterated as they were all out for 65, a 64 run loss.

The reason that margin was obliterated was another professional performance from the holders, as Pembroke restricted The Hills to just 111 all out in the 20th over, no fewer than 6 bowlers taking wickets as Izzy McLean was the pick taking 2/23. Pembroke then made light work of the chase, as having lost Sarah Forbes for 13, Isobel Jennings (21*) needed only keep Lou Lou Little company, as the big hitting number three blasted 64 from 41 balls, finding the boundary 8 times and clearing it twice, as they were 9 wicket winners with more than 6 overs to spare.

In Malahide, Leinster's 167/3 was built by 59 from Sophie MacMahon, an unbeaten 48 for Rebecca Rolfe, and 32 for Joanna Loughran, as they then proceeded to strangle Malahide to 109/5 in their 20 overs, as only Anna Kerrison (36) could provide any resistance.

Finally, in Balbriggan, Rush would have been pleased with their effort of 146/3 in 20 overs, as Ocean Bartlett (52) supported Rebecca Lowe (66*) nicely, Madison Landsman was the pick of the bowlers with 2/26, and she didn't step out of the limelight there. The South-African hammered an unbeaten 84 from just 51 balls, sharing an unbroken stand of 116 with Lara Maritz (29*) in taking the 'Brig to victory and keeping them just ahead of Leinster in third place.