SPRINT COATINGS WINS FOR CLONTARF, MERRION, THE HILLS & YM!

The latest round of the Sprint Coating Division One took place this evening against the back-drop of unsettled weather and without any of the International players, many of whom played in the Super Series 50-over game yesterday.

Leinster lost to The Hills by 7 wkts on DLS

In a game reduced to 19 overs per side, Leinster recovered from a shaky start to post 141-7, primarily on the back of a fourth wicket partnership of 79 between Orla Bagnall (47 off 42 balls) and Katie Dillon who scored 22.

In a good team effort in the field, the main contributors for The Hills were Rebecca Gough (2-20), Mary-Ann Musonda (2-24) and Tara O’Brien (2-25), all off their full 4 overs.

As has often been the case this season, Mary-Ann Musonda was the main stay of The Hills reply as they went about chasing a revised DLS target of 131.

The match-winning partnership was between Musonda and the experienced Catherine Archer (at number 5) as they put on a crucial (and unbeaten) 73 runs, chasing down the revised target with 3.2 overs to spare. Musonda finished on 68 not out off 42 balls but Archer played her part also remaining unbeaten on 18* as The Hills gained important points away from home.

Kate Dillon was the best of the Leinster attack finishing with 2-33 off her 4 overs.

Pembroke lost to Clontarf by 101 runs

Clontarf batted first in Sydney Parade with Robyn Searle and Christina Coulter-Reilly posting a phenomenal opening partnership of 214. Coulter-Reilly was run out off the last ball of the innings for a brilliant 104 off 78 balls including 13 X 4s. Searle finished unbeaten on 79* off just 53 balls which included 10 boundaries. It was a chastening experience for the Pembroke bowling attack missing both Orla Prendergast and Louise Little.

Faced with such an intimidating chase, Pembroke opened with the experienced duo of Clare Shillington and Shauna Kavanagh. Kavanagh was dismissed by Freya Sargent with the score on 38. With further wickets falling at regular intervals, Shillington played a lone hand until she was 5th out for a well made 48 leaving Pembroke in trouble on 68-5 off 10.2 overs.

The Pembroke innings then petered out to finish 113 all out in 18.5 overs. All of the Clontarf bowlers contributed to another important win including Sinead Thomson (2-9 off 4), Julie McNally (2-26 off 4) and then Anna Marshall who finished the innings with 3-11.

Clontarf maintain their strong winning habit.

Merrion beat Malahide by 27 runs

In a repeat of Tuesday’s Senior Cup Semi-Final, Merrion again hosted Malahide at Anglesea Road with opener Polly Inglis carrying her bat for an excellent 124 not out off 76 balls which included no less than 19 X 4s. Inglis was well supported by captain Celeste Raack who was run out in the last over for a well made 44 in an evening to forget for the Malahide attack.

Despite losing two early wickets, Bella Armstrong and Gemma Devally then combined with great purpose to post 105 for the third wicket until Devally was run out for a run-a-ball 39.

Armstrong continued to advance the Malahide cause ensuring a very credible chase albeit in a losing cause.

Malahide finished on 165-4 off their allotted overs with Armstrong carrying her bat for an unbeaten 93* off just 66 balls.

The win for Merrion keeps them on top alongside Clontarf.

Phoenix lost to YMCA by 4 runs

In the bottom of the table clash, YM batted first in the Park and limped to a total of 99-9 off their allotted overs. Best with the bat for YM were Robyn Lewis (24) and Sarah Forbes (21) with just 76 runs off the bat throughout the full 20 overs.

It was a fine effort in the field by Phoenix with 5 bowlers in the wickets. The leading wicket taker was Ali Keenan with 3-22 whilst Zara Craig chipped in with 2-7 off her 3 overs.

Despite some useful individual contributions with the bat, Phoenix struggled to achieve the required momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Player/Coach Claire Terblanche achieved the highest individual score (28*) for Phoenix and in doing so brought her side close to pulling off their first win of the 2023 campaign.

In a tense finish, the YM bowlers stuck to their task well and ultimately defended the modest total by just 4 runs.

Best of the bowling for YM was Alice Tector (3-13 off 4) and Sarah Forbes (2-14 off 4).