Unofficial Table until scorecards submitted and confirmed
Despite promising a shift in the balance table, R11 of the Mason Alexander / LHW Financial Services Premier League ended up pretty much as you were. This means that none of the top three teams suffered an upset. Of equal significance, The Hills, although at once stage seemingly in control of their game against Pembroke, ended up losing and thus remain part of a threesome trying to avoid relegation or a play-off spot.
Of the three leading sides North County had the easiest passage using home advantage to maximum effect. Batting first they made 278/7 in their 50 overs with Niall McGovern [75] and Jonathan Andrews [75*] being the main providers. Harry Tector [4/41] and Padraic Flanagan [1/44] were the only YMCA bowlers to stem the flow of runs. In the end it did not matter too much as the YMCA batting with eight players in single figures and extras the top score on 21, never got going. They were eventually all out for a disappointing 105 and full points for the home side.
The leaders Merrion had a much tougher time of it against Leinster. In a relatively low scoring match and on a wicket that gave the spinners some turn Leinster batted first and were strongly placed at 128/2 off 30 overs to post a big score with Monil Patel and George Dockrell well set. But Merrion’s surprise hero was Niranjan Shankar [promoted from wicket keeping on the 2nds] who induced a dramatic collapse and ended up with 6/30 off his seven overs. Generally a score of 219 would be counted as below par in Anglesea Road but it required a carefully constructed century partnership between Dom Joyce [89] and John Anderson [73] to set the platform for victory. A flurry of late wickets put a more acceptable face on it for Leinster but in the end the five wicket win was comfortable enough.
In Castle Avenue Phoenix were looking to repeat their early season win over Clontarf. The visitors went into the game off a series of poor results but put this behind them as after seem early wickets Brad Kneebone [60] and Fletcher Coutts [110] put on 150 for the fourth wicket allowing Phoenix to post a competitive 250 total. But Clontarf had their own centurion in Obus Pienaar [102*] who brought the team home in the final over for a win by four wickets. It was a good day for Clontarf’s overseas player who in addition to his hundred took 3/31 in his ten overs and also for Eoghan Delany who returned to league cricket with a vital 69 runs.
The final game between Pembroke and The Hills [well chosen is the Match of the Day: https://news.cricketleinster.ie/news/game-of-the-day-pembroke-v-the-hills-august-6th] was certainly the most exciting. Pembroke batted first and having lost two early wickets fought back with a century partnership between JJ Garth [34] and Lorcan Tucker [59]. But excepting some lower order runs from Paul lawson [33*] there was not much help from the rest of the Pembroke batting. The Hills provided some assistance in the form of 39 extras but still a final total of 210 did not feel like enough. Pembroke got a couple of early wickets but at 130/3 and 173/5 The Hills looked well placed to bring home the win. But when Daya Singh [87] fell on 183 the pressure proved too much and Pembroke squeezed home in the 49th over by 16 runs.
The big winners on the day were probably Pembroke who can now relax without worrying about being dragged into a relegation battle. YMCA will be disappointed in their performance but in the grand scheme of things it probably won’t make much difference. And for the remaining teams, the three at the top and the three at the bottom of the table, not much has changed and we move on to the next round.