PEMBROKE OVERPOWER PHOENIX - SKELLIG SIX18 SENIOR CUP FINAL

A brilliant day in Sydney Parade this afternoon saw Pembroke securing a brilliant victory by 210 runs against Phoenix, as they secured the Skellig Six18 Leinster Senior Cup title for the second time in three seasons.

Having won the toss, Nick Stapleton decided to take first use of their home wicket, which was the same pitch which saw last weekend's thrilling tie with Leinster.

JJ Garth and Tim Tector got the home side off to a very quick start, with Garth moving past his half-century inside 14 overs, before being dismissed soon afterwards, caught at deep-square leg by Amish Sidhu off the bowling of George Dockrell for 57 from just 51 balls, including 7 boundaries and two maximums.

Tector continued through his own half-century, which was slightly more sedate, however again he made it to just 55 before being dismissed on his 63rd delivery, having struck 8 boundaries. James Maginnis taking a fine low catch diving forward at cover to dismiss Tector off the bowling of Sidhu. Sidhu then threatened to cause a collapse, as he dismissed Harry Tector LBW without scoring.

This however just brought Lorcan Tucker and Nick Stapleton together, with the pair scoring fluently, adding 44 which was dominated by Tucker before the gloveman was dismissed for 69 from just 58 deliveries, finding the boundary 7 times and clearing it three more. His dismissal, caught at point by George Dockrell, preceded another quick wicket, this time Jack Tector falling to Sidhu for just 1 and giving the left-arm spinner final figures of 3/51, which proved very impressive in the grand scheme.

Stapleton's brilliantly paced 63 took just 57 deliveries as he became the fourth man to pass the half-century marker in the innings, and when he was dismissed it was left to Fiachra Tucker (32) and Greg Hollins (23) to guide them to their finishing total of 323/8 in 50 overs. Dockrell's 2/47 the best support to Sidhu's three wickets.

Phoenix's chase got off to the worst possibly start, as Stapleton clipped Johit Munjal's off-bail with a ball the opener shouldered arms to. That was followed in the 6th over by Levon Shields hitting Olly Riley straight up in the air to be caught by Byron McDonough for just 6.

Jack Lalor then began to play himself in, and dominated a partnership of 41 with Dockrell, however a poorly judged run by Lalor then saw Dockrell caught short at the striker's end. This kicked off a glut of wickets, as firstly Byron McDonough knocked over Getkate and Tyrone Kane in consecutive deliveries, and Adam Chester quickly followed LBW for 4 to Harry Tector.

With the score on 82, and having just moved past 50, Jack Lalor was run out after a horrible miscommunication with James Maginnis, that left them seven down and with no chance of victory. JJ Garth grabbed two wickets, along with Paul Lawson dismissing Maginnis, as the 'away' side were dismissed for 113 inside 29 overs.

JJ Garth emerged as the pick of the bowlers for Pembroke, taking 2/8, whilst Byron McDonough's 2/31 was crucial to the cause.

Congratulations to Pembroke on winning the Skellig Six18 Senior Cup for the 2024 season, and all at Cricket Leinster would like to thank June O'Connell, CEO of Skellig Six18 for her unstinting support of the club cricket scene in Leinster.