SPRINT COATINGS SENIOR CUP FINAL - PAUL & INGLIS BLAST MERRION TO VICTORY

A massive 2nd wicket partnership between Leah Paul and Polly Inglis was the backbone of an excellent batting effort which saw Merrion ultimately run out 105 run winners in today's Sprint Coatings Senior Cup Final.

Having won the toss at the second attempt, Merrion skipper Celeste Raack decided to bat first and a solid opening partnership between Cecelia Joyce and Leah Paul saw the score move to 40, before the former was dismissed by Hannah Little for 15.

This brought Polly Inglis to the crease to join Paul, and the pair batted brilliantly, firstly rotating the strike, turning ones into twos, and then beginning to attack the ropes as the score breezed past 100, with the pair both passing their respective half-centuries in the 16th and 17th overs, Inglis was eventually run out in the final over in an effort to get Paul back on strike, as she made 60, with Paul finishing up on 59*.

Hannah and Lou Lou Little were the pick of the bowlers for Pembroke, as they produced figures of 1/18 and 0/22 respectively, with both sets of figures reading extremely well against the final total of 165/2 in 20 overs.

Pembroke's chase got off to the worst possible start, as having struck a boundary, Mary Waldron sliced a drive to the safe hands of Izzy Joyce at point. McNulty then took two more wickets with consecutive deliveries, seeing Shauna Kavanagh adjudged LBW off the final ball of her 2nd over, before dismissing Clare Shillington with the first ball of her third. Sandwiched between those was Síbha Bhoja dismissing Lou Lou Little, again caught by Izzy Joyce.

That left the score at 20/4 and the Pembroke chase reeling. Leah Paul and Rachel Delaney then rolled off 8 overs between them, taking 2/22 and ensuring there was no notion of a fightback from the home side. A wicket apiece for Sophie Stewart and Celeste Raack saw Pembroke 57/8 and the last rites were firmly being read.

It was left to Síbha Bhoja to return to the attack and round off the innings with back to back deliveries, firstly castling Hannah Little, before seeing skipper Celeste Raack have the winning moment as she caught Anna Beale at short fine leg. That saw Pembroke all out for 60, and a 105 run win for Merrion.

The post match saw Leah Paul crowned Player of the Match for her unbeaten 59 and 1/13 from four overs, with the award presented by sponsor Alan Maginnis, and Merrion captain Celeste Raack presented with the Sprint Coatings Senior Cup by Michelle Maginnis.

SPRINT COATINGS SENIOR CUP FINAL

Merrion 165/2, 20 overs (P Inglis 60, L Paul 59*; H Little 1/18)
beat
Pembroke 60/10, 20 overs (S Bhoja 3/12, N McNulty 3/13)
by 105 runs