Under 13 A League Final
St Andrew’s 177-3 (25 overs)
Andrew Vincent 83 not out Harry Kirk 44, Eoin Byrne 1-48 Milo Egan 1-47
St Mary’s 135 all out (23.2 overs)
Rian Cassidy 31 Eoin Byrne 23, Sunil Guptha 4-31 Stephen Keane 2-20
A glorious day marked the last of the school’s finals today at Merrion CC. The game between the two dominant forces in Leinster Cricket matched the weather. St Andrew’s won the toss and elected to bat. An early breakthrough by Milo Byrne seemed to offer Mary’s hope but a second wicket partnership of 43 by Andrew Vincent (83) and Stephen Keane (27) gave St Andrew’s great impetus. However this was to be surpassed by an excellent third wicket stand of 90 between Harry Kirk (44) and the very talented Vincent – speak of an old head on young shoulders. This was the match winning partnership and the final St Andrew’s total of 177 for 3 off 25 overs was a mammoth ask for the St Mary’s batsmen.
St Mary’s though have not emerged as one of the forces in Leinster cricket by shirking a challenge and they set about chasing the difficult total. Good hitting and some loose bowling helped St Mary’s to keep up with the run rate. Eoin Byrne (23) and Rian Cassidy (31) were the pick of the St Mary’s batsmen. The dangerous Donal McAuliffe (21) was removed by an excellent catch by Vincent off the bowling of Riley Shoebridge.
With 10 overs to go St Mary’s needed 77 runs with 7 wickets remaining - the game was still on. However St Andrew’s brought on Sonail Guptha (4-31) who took the crucial wickets of Cassidy and Milo Egan (17) and he also took an impressive caught and bowled to dismiss Oscar Byrne (6). The match had turned and some good bowling by Stephen Keane and Harry Kirk and impressive fielding wrapped up the St Mary’s innings. St Mary’s though can be proud of their effort with the bat and they certainly had St. Andrew’s under pressure.
This match report would not be complete with an eulogy about the batting of Andrew Vincent. To carry your bat for 25 overs in a final is a great achievement but to score regularly and nearly always on the off-side made this achievement all the more special. He did not give a chance and never looked troubled by a determined St Mary’s bowling attack.