SQUIRES HUNDRED SETS UP FUTURE SERIES VICTORY! (22ND JULY)

A record-breaking century for Leinster Women’s captain Annabel Squires was to the fore today as the side claimed their fourth bonus point victory in five games to go just one point from winning the tournament!

Squires’ day started perfectly - as she won the toss and elected to bat first on a good batting track in Donacloney. She then added 41 with Sarah Prendergast for the first wicket before the latter fell for 14.

That only succeeded in bringing together Squires and her in-form Merrion club-mate Aisling Lawlor, with the duo instantly getting into their stride and finding the ropes regularly. Their partnership was worth 94 when Lawlor was out for 28, bowled to a ball that spun back sharply.

Squires added further partnerships in the 40s with both Isobel Jennings and Izzy McLean, bringing up a fine century in the process, and when she was eventually dismissed for 148, it had taken just 107 deliveries to reach the highest score made by any woman representing Leinster.

Lucy Barry’s 27* from just 15 deliveries to finish the innings with a flourish, the Leinster side making 287/8 in their 40 overs.

The NCU chase started brightly, however when Barry then claimed two wickets in two balls in the seventh over, they succeeded in stopping the flow of runs.

There followed the introduction of spin for the first time in the second innings, and Aisling Lawlor bowled a sublime spell. Her earlier experience of the sharp turn on offer now fell in her favour, as she turned googlies through the gate of no fewer than three of the NCU middle order to see them bowled, before ultimately finishing with 5/27 off her eight overs.

Ellie McGee was once again economic, bowling seven overs for just 19, whilst Arisha Foysal rounded out an excellent all-round effort from the spinners, claiming 3/23 from her 5.3 overs, in doing so securing a 128 run victory to leave the team on five wins from five!

The side’s next fixture is against the North West on Friday in North County CC, with Leinster now just needing one more point to secure the competition.