In a pulsating match with over 600 runs scored, the tightest of finishes and no small amount of controversy, North County secured an 8 run win over Merrion and succeeded in prising open the title race for the Mason Alexander / LHW Financial Services Premier League. The result means that there are now three teams, North County, Clontarf and Merrion within a single win of each other at the top of the table. Important wins for YMCA and Pembroke means that there is still the possibility of a late title challenge coming from these quarters.
At Inch North County batting first lost three early wickets before Malcolm Nofal [114] and Eddie Richardson [95] put on a 217 run partnership [second highest of the season] at over seven runs per over. That North County did not pass the 350 mark was probably due to the introduction of JJ Walsh into the attack who bowled seven overs for 3/25 at an economy rate of 3.75. In the end the 313 all out in the final [46th] over was still a formidable total and more than any team has chased this season. The controversy arose over a mid-session break in the first innings to allow the bowlers landing area time to dry out further.
Merrion got off to a poor start and were three down for 36. When John Anderson was the fourth to go before a 100 was on the board few gave Merrion any chance to do anything other than perhaps salvage a couple of batting points. But a 50 run partnership between Tyrone Kane [43] and Jack Carty [66] got the innings going again. When Carty was out just short of the 200 mark with only 16 overs remaining and three wickets left it seemed to be just about batting points. That the innings got down to the final over with 9 needed to win and the last pair at the wicket was mainly down to Sean Stanton whose maiden senior half-century [56] came off 25 balls. But it was fittingly left to Nofal to make the final and decisive intervention when he had Stanton bowled off the first ball of the final 46th over.
Clontarf [second in the table] had a much easier time of it down the road at the Vineyard. First of all they bowled The Hills out for 160 with only Nicolaas Pretorius [59] making a telling contribution. Early wickets from captain Joe Morrissey [2/13] were followed by ten overs from Abraham Pienaar with the excellent figures of 4/16. The Clontarf openers were quickly on their way and the run out of Declan Gallagher [33] when the score was 143 was The Hills’ only success. In the end Bill Coghlan with an undefeated century brought Clontarf home for a nine wicket win. Two losses by nine wickets in a row will be more than a little worrying for The Hills - especially so as their bowlers have now gone 400 runs for only one wicket.
Pembroke’s win over Leinster at Sydney Parade was another important step in their recovery this season. They now have five wins and although not strictly safe from relegation are nonetheless in a pretty comfortable position. Batting first the home team made 193 all out thanks mainly to a half-century from Lorcan Tucker [65]. Joe Carroll [3/24] and Hugh MacDonnell [2/28] were the main wicket takers. Another sub-200 score for Pembroke certainly gave Leinster plenty of opportunity and at 86/1 they looked to be well in charge. But despite the first five batsmen getting into double figures none of them kicked on and wickets fell regularly. In then end Leinster fell 19 runs short - with three wickets a piece for Alex Ridley [3/29], JJ Garth [3/23] and Jack Balbirnie [3/14].
Another team that will feel more than a little relieved will be YMCA. Going into this crucial game v Phoenix missing key players in Jack Tector and Simi Singh they were under immense pressure. As it turned out they secured a comfortable six wicket win by bowling Phoenix out for 139. Wickets for Jarred barnes [3/34], Padraic Flanagan [3/25] and, following his T20 heroics the previous night, from Mitchell Thompson [2/13] did the damage. For Phoenix only Adam Chester [49] and Rory Anders [33] got into double figures. Despite a couple of early set backs, YMCA duly knocked off the runs in 31 overs with Oliver Gunning [44] and Harry Tector [43] providing the backbone of the innings.
What this all means is that with five rounds to go the competition at the top is heating up with three teams in immediate contention. YMCA and Pembroke [with five wins] are not secure but can probably stop looking over their shoulder for the moment and contemplate a late run for honours [much as Leinster did last season]. This leaves The Hills, Phoenix and Leinster in greatest danger and fighting to avoid, first, automatic relegation and then the play-off spot.