There has been a huge amount of cricket played in Division 3 since our last round up - nine matches in all. Those nine matches have had a big affect on the averages, but there have also been some big changes in the league table.
Merrion stay top, winning two of their three matches in that time period. Interesstingly, they were heavily beaten by Clontarf last Saturday as Robert Forrest and Andrew Vincent both scored 59, before David Delany took 4-39 to see Clontarf victors by 146 runs. That win was one of two in that period - although they also lost to Laois.
Laois remain firmly in the promotion race, having at least three matches in hand on their rivals. Laois haven't played since that win over Clontarf, and have now been matchless in the league since July 5th. It promises to be an important few weeks, as they look to press on in their promorion push.
Leinster were the big movers over July, going from relegation contenders to joint second spot. Wins over The Hills (twice) and North Kildare along with a loss to Clontarf has seen them surge up the table. They have a tough end to the season though, and have still to play leaders Merrion twice.
Pembroke 2 and North Kildare 1 are in a classically mid-table position. They're both within touching distance of second place, but are also still looking over their shoulders at 7th and 8th place. Pembroke have only played once in July, squeezing past Phoenix 2 in what was a crucial one run win. That match could make a big difference in the end of season table.
North Kildare had a disappointing July, losing to Leinster and Merrion. Their remaining games give them hope though, with Laois (twice), The Hills, Phoenix and Pembroke.
The bottom two sides were winless throughout July. In fairness to Phoenix, they only played once (that one run defeat to Pembroke), with The Hills losing twice to Leinster.
How has that changed the averages?
Highest Batting average in Division 3 - (current qualification - 250 runs)
With qualification now moving up to 250 runs, Tomas Rooney Murphy has now dropped out, with a new entry in Laois' Rashid Mehraj coming into second place, after scoring 108 in Laois' one match - that win over Clontarf.
| # | Name | Club | Inn | NO | HS | 50 | 100 | Runs | Avg |
| 1 | M Lewis | Merr | 9 | 3 | 106* | 2 | 1 | 394 | 65.67 |
| 2 | R Mehraj | Laois | 7 | 2 | 108 | 1 | 1 | 294 | 58.80 |
| 3 | G McDonnell | Pemb | 8 | - | 147 | 1 | 1 | 358 | 44.75 |
| 4 | Paul Ryan | NK | 11 | - | 90 | 5 | - | 441 | 40.09 |
| 5 | Asim Nazir | Tarf | 9 | 1 | 102 | 1 | 1 | 315 | 39.38 |
| 6 | M Donegan | Hills | 8 | 1 | 108* | 1 | 1 | 258 | 36.86 |
| 7 | D Coad | Lein | 9 | 1 | 85 | 2 | - | 290 | 36.25 |
| 8 | M Collier | Tarf | 10 | 1 | 58 | 2 | - | 280 | 31.11 |
| 9 | R Smith | Merr | 10 | - | 75 | 2 | - | 309 | 30.90 |
| 10 | R Neavyn | NK | 11 | - | 46 | - | - | 272 | 24.73 |
Lowest Bowling average in Division 3 - (Current Qualification - 12 wkts)
Shariful Islam stays top, but Sameer Dutt is back in the top three, after taking 5-17 against Leinster. Leinster's Finn Conaty also enteres the top three, after taking 4-29 and 2-23 in the two matches against The Hills.
| # | Name | Club | Overs | Maid | RunsA | BBowl | 5I | Econ | SR | Wkt | Avg |
| 1 | Shariful Islam | Tarf | 47 | 5 | 154 | 3-15 | - | 3.28 | 17.62 | 16 | 9.62 |
| 2 | S Dutt | Tarf | 48 | 7 | 190 | 5-17 | 1 | 3.94 | 17.00 | 17 | 11.18 |
| 3 | F Conaty | Lein | 41 | 2 | 231 | 5-32 | 1 | 5.63 | 12.95 | 19 | 12.16 |
| 4 | Amir Khan | Laois | 66 | 8 | 234 | 5-38 | 1 | 3.55 | 22.00 | 18 | 13.00 |
| 5 | B Whaley | Pemb | 49 | 6 | 228 | 4-13 | - | 4.65 | 18.38 | 16 | 14.25 |
| 6 | A Smit | Laois | 48 | - | 230 | 5-40 | 1 | 4.79 | 18.00 | 16 | 14.38 |
| 7 | M Collier | Tarf | 71 | 4 | 311 | 6-39 | 1 | 4.34 | 22.63 | 19 | 16.37 |
| 8 | Manjeet Singh | NK | 77 | 12 | 277 | 4-7 | - | 3.60 | 30.80 | 15 | 18.47 |
| 9 | R Kenealy | Lein | 54 | 7 | 228 | 3-19 | - | 4.22 | 27.00 | 12 | 19.00 |
| 10 | H Balbirnie | Pemb | 60 | 10 | 261 | 6-19 | 1 | 4.30 | 28.00 | 13 | 20.08 |
| 11 | N Sharma | Merr | 90 | 9 | 351 | 4-34 | - | 3.86 | 32.06 | 17 | 20.65 |
| 12 | R Ensor | Merr | 66 | 9 | 329 | 4-37 | - | 4.97 | 33.08 | 12 | 27.42 |
Most Catches by a fielder in Division 3
Jeff Short continues to lead the catches by a fielder, and he has now been joined on 7 by Luke Prior of Clontarf
| # | Name | Club | Mts | Ct |
| 1 | Jeff Short | Merr | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | L Prior | Tarf | 8 | 7 |
| 3 | C O'Donoghue | Merr | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | M Collier | Tarf | 10 | 6 |
| 5 | L Hofmeyr | NK | 9 | 6 |
| 6 | Asim Nazir | Tarf | 10 | 6 |
| 7 | J Blakeney | Merr | 8 | 5 |
| 8 | B Whaley | Pemb | 10 | 5 |
| 9 | W Archer | Hills | 8 | 5 |
| 10 | S Mehdi Shah | Phoe | 9 | 4 |
| 11 | R Mehraj | Laois | 7 | 4 |
| 12 | Paul Ryan | NK | 11 | 4 |
| 13 | D Coad | Lein | 9 | 4 |
| 14 | W Akhtar | Hills | 8 | 4 |
Most dismissals by a wicket keeper in Division 3
There is a new leader in the wicket keeping stakes, as Mohammed Ramazan of Laois now has nine dismissals - he took four catches in Laois' win over Clontarf.
| # | Name | Club | Mts | Ct | St | Dismissals |
| 1 | M Ramazan | Laois | 8 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | Richard Forrest | Lein | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 3 | A Battan | Tarf | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | M Lewis | Merr | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | Robert Forrest | Tarf | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| 6 | M Donegan | Hills | 8 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 7 | R Smith | Merr | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Danny Hogan | Pemb | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 | R Neavyn | NK | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | J Kerrison | Lein | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Leading allrounder in Division 3 - (1 pt for each run, 20 pts for each wkt, ctch or stmp. Qualification - 125 runs and six wickets/catches for a keeper )
There remains a fascinating battle at the top, with Paul Ryan of North Kildare pulling just clear of Mark Collier of Clontarf.
| # | Name | Club | Mts | Runs | Wkt | Ct | St | Points |
| 1 | Paul Ryan | NK | 11 | 441 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 661 |
| 2 | M Collier | Tarf | 10 | 280 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 660 |
| 3 | M Lewis | Merr | 10 | 394 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 554 |
| 4 | Manjeet Singh | NK | 11 | 246 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 546 |
| 5 | S Dutt | Tarf | 6 | 139 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 479 |
| 6 | B Whaley | Pemb | 10 | 153 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 473 |
| 7 | Asim Nazir | Tarf | 10 | 315 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 455 |
| 8 | R Mehraj | Laois | 7 | 294 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 454 |
| 9 | R Smith | Merr | 10 | 309 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 449 |
| 10 | M Ramazan | Laois | 8 | 230 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 410 |
| 11 | M Donegan | Hills | 8 | 258 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 398 |
| 12 | Richard Forrest | Lein | 6 | 160 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 320 |
| 13 | Robert Forrest | Tarf | 5 | 148 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 288 |
| 14 | I ul Haq | NK | 11 | 141 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 281 |
| 15 | T Anders | Phoe | 5 | 154 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 274 |