Captains and Umpires: Phoenix v Pembroke
Pembroke had a comfortable 9-wicket victory in a Mason Alexander, LHW Financial Planning Premier League T20 refix on a glorious summer’s evening in the Phoenix Park. JJ Garth’s stunning 4 for 7 and Andrew Balbirnie’s unbeaten 48 were the highlights of a clinical team performance.
Phoenix won the toss and opted to bat first, however JJ Garth quickly wrested the initiative Pembroke’s way.
Fiachra Tucker knew from last season what Garth was capable of in the twenty over format and the gamble of opening with the young spinner paid dividends immediately as Garth trapped Rory Anders LBW in just the second over.
In his second over he was adjudged to have trapped Strydom LBW and the very next delivery he had Chester caught by Balbirnie at first slip. Tom Anders kept the hat-trick ball out and nicked a boundary through the slip cordon but after 4 overs, Phoenix were 14/3.
Josh Little kept up the pressure with a tight fifth over before Garth was back amongst the wickets. He had his fourth scalp when he bowled opposition captain Tom Anders.
Fletcher Coutts attempted to counterattack for Phoenix and smashed a massive six square of the wicket that connected with the pavilion glass. This was followed by a sweep to fine leg off the bowling off Tucker that brought Phoenix to 43/4 off 10 overs.
Despite the loss of Coutts, Sine Tsotsa took up the baton and attacked the Pembroke bowlers. In the twelfth he powered a six to cow corner and followed that with a muscled pull behind square for four.
In the 16thover both Tsotsa and Ian Anders produced quality shots to hit maximums and push Phoenix towards a competitive total.
Unfortunately for the home side neither could see it through to the end. Anders was caught on the long-on boundary going for another maximum before Josh Little bowled Tsotsa for 38, leaving Phoenix 8 down for 101.
Alex Ridley closed the innings with two wickets in the final over, the second thanks to a fine running catch from Tucker. A fine effort from Pembroke in the field saw Phoenix bowled out for 102.
To have any hope of defending their total, Phoenix needed to take early wickets of their own. Pembroke’s Balbirnie and Theo Lawson were in assured form though.
Through a combination of good running, fine shot making and clinical punishment of anything wayward, Pembroke had moved serenely to 70/0 eight overs into the chase with both batsmen on 35 not out.
The only blemish in the chase came when Theo Lawson fell for 43. A leading edge off the bowling of Ben White gave Tom Anders an easy catch.
Pembroke captain, Tucker, joined Balbirnie at the crease and they steered their side home to a 9-wicket victory with 5 overs to spare.
Speaking after the game, Phoenix captain Tom Anders was disappointed his side “didn’t turn up” and “didn’t start well with the bat or ball”.
Pembroke captain, Fiachra Tucker, meanwhile, was delighted with his side’s performance in what he acknowledged had been a big game for the club.
Mason Alexander LHW Financial Planning Premier League
At Phoenix Park:
Phoenix102 all out (S Tsotsa 38 F Coutts 24; JJ Garth 4/7, A Ridley 3/15)
Pembroke 103/1 (A Balbirnie 48*, T Lawson 43; B White 1/30)
Pembroke win by 9 wickets