SPRINT COATINGS DIVISION ONE – PREVIEW (15.6.2023)

Alan & Michelle Maginnis of Sprint Coatings, sponsors of Women’s cricket in Leinster

As we approach the half-way stage in the Sprint Coatings Women’s Division One, there are some intriguing clashes scheduled for Thursday evening as follows:

Malahide (who currently top the table) host strugglers YMCA who have only won one match so far this season. Malahide come into this game full of confidence on the back of facile 8 wicket wins over The Hills and Leinster. They have a strong batting line up and a well-rounded bowling attack with contributions being made right across the team. YM on the other hand seem to rely heavily on the individual contribution of Gaby Lewis whose 78 off 66 balls enabled their only league win to-date by just 4 runs at The Vineyard.

YM’s fortunes often rely heavily on match-winning performances from Gaby Lewis

Leinster (also with just one win) entertain Pembroke at Observatory Lane in what is traditionally a very competitive fixture. Both teams have struggled so far due to a combination of weather and player availability challenges and will be looking to regain some momentum.

On paper, Pembroke probably go into this fixture as marginal favourites given the breadth of experience and representative players as their disposal – you can follow all the action via the CL match centre if you can’t make it to Rathmines

The Hills will travel to Anglesea Road to face a strong Merrion side who are currently second in the table. The fortunes of the Fingal side will very much depend on how their top order performs with the bat which includes Zimbabwean International, Mary-Anne Musonda, Tahlia Dunne (Australian who holds an Irish passport) and Aimee Maguire who has been in fine form with both bat and ball – Maguire carried her bat last week for an unbeaten 45 in a losing cause against Malahide and then took the only 2 wickets to fall, finishing with 2-24 off her 4 overs.

Zimbabwean International, Mary-Anne Musonda who is a key player for The Hills this season

Phoenix host Clontarf in the Park and whilst Clontarf have started the season well with solid wins over Leinster and YM, Phoenix come into this game still looking for their first win of the 2023 campaign. The Clontarf team has been growing in strength over recent years and this is reflected in the number of players capable of influencing the outcome in any given fixture. Robyn Searle (who previously played at The Hills) has been a good addition and combined to great effect last week with fellow opener, Christina Coulter-Reilly to set up a comfortable win over YM.

Christina Coulter-Reilly who scored 55 last week as Clontarf defeated YM

Having recruited former South African International Claire Terblanche as Head Coach in the off-season, Phoenix are very much rebuilding with a long-term focus and have some good young players in their line-up including Lucy McDonough & Nevedha Saravanarajan. Clontarf go into this fixture as favourites but as always, these games tend to pivot on one or two individual performances on either side.

Clontarf team which won the Pilkington Plate Final in 2022