Reports from Leinster Senior Cup:  Round 1

Despite the very unpleasant weather yesterday afternoon four of the six LSC games scheduled were played to a conclusion. The Rush v Clontarf game did not get started because of heavy rain getting under the covers over night. Phoenix v Terenure succumbed to the weather. Compliments to the umpires, players and groundsmen for getting so much play in. 

In the all D1 clash between YMCA and North County the match was decided by DL but with YMCA in a commanding position. Batting first North County made 243/8 with half centuries from Eddie Richardson [73] and Nathan Rooney [52]. Yaqoob Ali was the outstanding bowler for YMCA taking 5/34 in his 12 overs. Strong top order batting from YMCA, keeping their wickets intact and their score ahead of DL, provided the basis for their victory with Jack Tector [38*] and Simranjiit Singh [41*] bringing the side home. When play ended YMCA were 104/1 and won on DL by 36.

Leinster secured the only D1 scalp by a D2 side when they beat The Hills in a close match decided by DL. Batting first Leinster scored 221/7 [50 Overs], thanks to George Dockrell [70] and Joe Carroll [56]. Hamid Shah was the pick of the bowlers with 3/39. The Hills [after adjustments to the length of the match] ended up on 120/3 - 5 runs short on DL.

No official scorecard has been received for the Pembroke v Balbriggan match. The basic facts are that Pembroke chased down Balbriggan’s 222 and made it comfortably [allowing for the weather] by seven wickets thanks to an undefeated century from Daniel Solway [118*].

In the final match at Anglesea Road, Malahide were unable to repeat their success of three years ago when the two teams last met in the cup. Merrion scored 415/5 [John Anderson 185 and half centuries for Michael Lewis and Tyrone Kane] and then bowled Malahide all out for 50 [Tom Stanton 4/4 and David Langford Smith 3/13]. Official scorecard yet to be submitted. But what proved to be an unequal contest on the day and of interest only to the home supporters, nonetheless has cricket statisticians reaching for the historical records to see if any records have been broken.

First of all the score of 415 is the highest team total and only the second over 400 this century. It is, however, by no means the highest score ever. It is perhaps not surprising - given that cup matches were originally timeless - to find some even bigger scores back before the introduction of the 60 over limit. 1950 saw the highest team score in the Leinster Senior Cup when Leinster made 537/7 against Dublin University in Rathmines. Merrion themselves were on the receiving end of the second highest score of 485/7 by Railway in Park Avenue in 1961. But it was not just timeless cup matches that produced massive scores. In 1933 Leinster made 506/9 in the league against Phoenix in Rathmines. 

So where does the result sit in the list of all time highest team scores. We are still checking a few records but it is in the top 10 but no better than seventh. It is, however, Merrion's highest score ever and the only time they have reached 400 in an innings.

In terms of individual scores - John Anderson’s 185 is the fourth highest for Merrion behind Brad Spanner 204* [2000], Dom Joyce 197 [2005] and Gus Joyce 191* [1999]. He is the seventh Merrion player to score over 150 runs in a match. 

The above figures relate to ISC / D1 only. There are two other matches from D2 that can be added as these are also properly counted in the Senior figures. One other 400 plus match in 2012 - when Pembroke made 412/6  against Rush in Rush. Also in the same year Rush scored 394/7 against Belvedere [again in Rush]

Finally, remember that there are a number of ISC and National Cup replays on today. 

Railway U v Cork County

Malahide v Strabane

Merrion v Coleraine

Greystones v Ballyspallen

Civil Service v Creevedonnell

Terenure v ArmaghAll matches start at 12.30