TECTOR AND LAWSON SINK MERRION - IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP
It was a day to remember for all those present in Anglesea Road this afternoon, as the featured game of the day staked an early claim to be the game of the season. With Jack Tector and Paul Lawson expertly reprising the roles of Ben Stokes and Jack Leach's famous Headingley 2019 Ashes chase.
When the pair came together, Pembroke needed 58 from the final 36 balls of their innings, and with just one wicket in hand, the game-plans needed to be crystal clear, and every risk calculated within an inch of it's life.
Tector and Lawson managed this sensationally, guiding the team to the most sensational one-wicket victory off the final ball of the game, having navigated needing 16 from the final six balls.
The Pembroke chase began quite sedately, and as wickets fell, Andy Balbirnie appeared to be the key man for the side's hopes of victory, however when he succumbed, caught on the boundary off the bowling of Connor Blaxall-Hill, it seemed as though the away side's chances may have been slipping away.
Enter Jack Tector however, who kept his side firmly in the game, in spite of pushing his luck ever so slightly, being dropped in the teens at long-on.
He added belligerent partnerships with JJ Garth, Gavin Hoey and Andrew Boulton, all keeping Pembroke just about in touch with the rate before being joined by Lawson for one of the most remarkable ends to a game anyone is likely to see.
Earlier in the day, it was a simply astounding 158 from Stephen Doheny which put Merrion into a fantastic position, ably supported by Adam Rosslee who made 51.
However from a position of 275/3 with 7 overs to go, a remarkable comeback by Harry Tector and Gavin Hoey saw the pair taking 3/49 and 5/61 respectively to drag their side back into the game, and restrict Merrion to 309 all out.
Lawson praised his side's resilience after the game, acknowledging that Merrion had arguably been the winners of the first 40 overs in each innings, however Pembroke's ability to stick in the game saw them winning out in the final ten both times around when the game really came into the balance.
Elsewhere, a brilliant century from Eknoor Singh, supported by 89 from Shane Getkate and a half-century for George Dockrell, saw Phoenix posting 322/6 in Clontarf, a score which proved to be 183 too many for the league-leaders, as four wickets for Ben White saw the away side victorious.
In Cork, it was a Rob O'Brien century, supported by 87 from Letli Sesele that saw Railway Union posting 291 All Out in The Mardyke, before 4 wickets for Liam McCarthy, supported by three apiece for Muhammad Sinan and Gethin Kelleher secured full points for 'The Patch'.
Inch saw another score of 158, as Monil Patel dominated Leinster’s total of 311/7, with good support from Joey Carroll helping them to what is generally a good score in North County. They were then indebted to wickets from Ben Mitchell, and two for each of Bahadur and Azhar in securing a 17 run win on DLS after the chase was reduced to just 44 overs.
In Malahide, the home side managed 223 thanks once again to runs for Robbie Foulkes (68) and Matt Ford (49), however Rush’s bowlers were in fine form, 3 wickets for Jarred Barnes and two for Allan Eastwood keeping the hosts to a chase-able score. A good start saw Ehtesham Ahmed making 42, before 80 from Abid Taniwal, supported by an unbeaten 44 from Finn McGee saw the Kenure men to a welcome 3-wicket victory.
Finally in the first result of the day, Balbriggan’s Matthew Hollard took 5/46, supported by 3/37 for Andy Darroch blew The Hills away for just 135 inside 38 overs. An unbeaten half-century for Chris de Freitas, with support from the skipper Greg Ford with 35 saw them to a 6 wicket win in just 18.5 overs.
