With Paul Reynolds and myself out of the country for the past week there was a shortage of reviews of weekend matches. Apologies to all. But better late than never. My predictions for last weekend are – wins for YMCA and Pembroke in the RSA Leinster Senior Cup, CSNI, Clontarf, YMCA and Merrion in the Quarter Finals of the RSA Irish Senior Cup and Malahide, Rush and Laurelvale and Derriaghy in the RSA National Cup.
I fear that some may feel that making predications with the benefit of hindsight is cheating. But I would ask for some latitude here. I have been making predictions before games all season and feel that a different approach is justified [at least once]. If I can only persuade my bookmaker to make a similar allowance it would go someway to getting my money back on poor bets made earlier in the year.
With the Irish team winning in Holland [twice] this has been a very important week for Irish cricket. Qualifying for major tournaments is critical for the development of the sport in this country. It is also becoming more difficult with fewer teams being allowed to go forward to World Cups in the future. Congratulation to John Anderson [Merrion] for his maiden century for Ireland in the 4D Intercontinental Match, to George Dockrell [DU] for his best ever bowling performance [6/39] in the second innings of the same match and to Kevin O’Brien [Railway] for his all round effort in the vital [32 quick runs and 4/13] ODI on Sunday. As a result of the two wins Ireland are now in the final of the Intercontinental Cup [next December] and are only one win [one point even] away from a World Cup qualification place. The latest tables are set out below.
World Cricket League Championship [1D]
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR |
| Ireland | 11 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 1.115 |
| Scotland | 12 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0.025 |
| Netherlands | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.37 |
| Afghanistan | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | -0.313 |
| Kenya | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -0.029 |
| U.A.E. | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -0.249 |
| Namibia | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.398 |
| Canada | 10 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -0.71 |
ICC Intercontinental Cup
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | Aban | Pts | Quotient |
| Ireland | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 1.83 |
| Afghanistan | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 1.056 |
| Namibia | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 1.197 |
| Scotland | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 0.998 |
| Kenya | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 0.75 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 0.8 |
| U.A.E. | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0.933 |
| Canada | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0.606 |
The weekend also saw Leinster qualify three teams for the Semi-Finals of the RISC to continue its dominance of the competition in recent years. Merrion did very well to beat a strong Warringstown side away from home and for once it was mainly down to the bowlers. Defending 206 [Thompson 63], Kane and McDonald made early breakthroughs to be followed by Joyce taking the vital wicket of Pienaar. Despite a fight back led by Bushe [70] the spinners were able to wrap up the innings with Watkins the most successful [3/13]. In the end a margin of victory of 68 was comfortable enough.
There were relatively easy victories for YMCA against North County [seven wickets] and CSNI against The Hills [eight wickets]. Clontarf had something of a roller coaster against Foxlodge. A Joe Morrissey [4/10] led bowling attack looked to have seen off the home team before Andrew McGinnis made an undefeated 100 off 77 balls [including ten 6s]. 140 all out should still have been easy enough but Clontarf managed to lose five quick wickets and had to rely on a sixth wicket partnership between Botha [65*] and Delany [25*] to see them home.
In the RNC there were easy victories for Malahide [win over Galway by 162 runs] and Rush [win over Dundrum by 7 wickets] though it was a very creditable performance by Dundrum who made Rush chase down 261. Another century by Iqbal [134*] was the highlight of the Rush innings.
Two Leinster teams now qualify for the RNC semi-finals. The full list is Rush, Malahide, Laurelvale and Derriaghy.