RSA OCD2: RoundUp and Averages

There is a certain symmetry surrounding the final two rounds of the RSA OCD2 which take place today and next weekend. At this point all that remains to be settled is who wins the league and who comes second. Malahide hold a slender five point lead over Cork County with both teams facing Phoenix and Rush in their last two matches. Wins can be expected the league title may well turn on the number of bonus points achieved.

Individual performances still matter of course and clubs outside of the main contenders will still be interested in ending the season on a positive note.

Division 2 has 6 batsmen already over 500 runs being the minimum required to qualify for the Richard Bruton Cup.  Again overseas players are not eligible for this so that reduces the possible contenders to 3. Of these both Reinhardt Strydom and Fintan McAllister the Malahide openers, have a chance of reaching 1,000 runs for the season in League and Cup with 2 matches remaining.  The last player to achieve this feat was Andre Botha in 2004 when he scored 1,046 runs at an average of 69.73. The bowling situation is much the same as for Division 1.  No one has yet got to the magical 30 needed to qualify for the Dick Clarke cup.  More likely that someone will reach this mark as all clubs have 2 matches left.  The Arthur Vincent cup for most catches in the field is headed at present by Malahide’s George Deans but he is not eligible for the cup as he is not qualified to play for Ireland. That still leaves a very tight field behind him, with Ethasham Ahmed next in line at present.  Leading wicket keeper in contention for the Ralph Satchwell Trophy is Glen Russell of Balbriggan and the leading all rounder at present is Reinhardt Strydom and it is hard to see him being caught in his quest for the All Rounder Award as Mohammad Farrukh would not be eligible for it and his team mate Fintan McAllister has a gap of 354 points to make up in 2 matches – not impossible but very very difficult.