WINS FOR MERRION, BALBRIGGAN, LEINSTER AND PHOENIX - ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE (14.05)!

A Leah Paul led Merrion win was the standout performance on a night where there were also wins for Balbriggan, Leinster and Phoenix.

The Hills vs Leinster

Leinster won the toss and elected to bat at The Vineyard, they were indebted to an opening parentship of 97 inside 15 overs between Alex Sheedy (42)and Rebecca Rolfe (60) in carrying their side to 142/2 from their 20 overs. Ava Canning provided some late impetus with 17 from just 8 deliveries to ensure their innings did not peter out at the back end. Vanessa Scollard was the only successful bowler with 1/27 from her 4 overs but there were tidy spells all round and The Hills will have felt confident at halftime.

Unfortunately for The Hills their chase never got going. Aisling O’Kelly was simply unstoppable as she picked up 3/13 to rip the heart out of The Hills batting line up. Lara McBride fought valiantly but it was always an uphill task with no one to go with her. There were wickets for Orla Bagnall (2/4) and Ava Canning (1/12) as their side ran out winners by 69 runs.

Clontarf vs Merrion

At Castle Avenue Clontarf won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that initially looked to be the correct one. There were wickets for Lucy Barry (2/24) and Sinead Thompson (2/34) as they reduced Merrion to 83/5 after 13 overs. However it was Leah Paul’s day as she blasted the ball to all parts in the later overs and in doing so guided her side to 170/8 finishing on 80 from 52 balls herself.

Clontarf’s chase got off to a solid start but never really at the rate required to cause Merrion any worry. Robyn Searle and Christina Coulter Reilly put on 50 inside 8 overs but when Coulter Reilly fell the innings never really picked up from there. Searle (82*) and Morrissey (37*) fought on but could never find the tempo required to challenge Merrion. Tight spells from Julianne Morrissey and Síbha Bhoja put their side in the box seat as Merrion closed out their win by 17 runs.

Balbriggan vs Rush

A Lara Maritz blitz led her side to their first victory of the season this evening at Jack Harper.  Julia Hoal carried on her good form contributing 32 of the first 44 runs inside 4 overs. From their her skipper took over whacking the bowling to all parts to finish 98* and leave her team on top at the half way point on 182/7. It was a tough evening for Rush but Ellie McGee was the standout with 3/23 from her 4 overs.

The chase never really got going for Rush, Cate Pederson held the key but when Landsman remover her for just 9 the tie was all but over. Ellie McGee counter punched with 31 but it was always going to be a tough ask. Excellent spells from Landsman (2/21), Indie Harper (2/12) and Maritz (1/12) ensured victory for their side by 65 runs.

Phoenix vs Malahide

Phoenix got their campaign back on track this evening thanks in no small part to Alice Tector. Phoenix elected to bowl on home soil and never looked back. Excellent spells from Alice Tector (1/11) and Darcey Dalwood (3/18) meant that Malahide could never really get anything going. Gemma Sargent did throw a late counter punch with two boundaries and six to get her team up to 121/6 but it never looked like being enough.

The Phoenix chase was always in control. Siúin Woods got her side off to the perfect start with 20 from just 12 balls leaving Phoenix 36/1 inside 4 overs when she was dismissed.. From there Alice Tector played with control finishing with 48 not out to guide her side home by 7 wickets. Anna Kerrison was the pick of the bowlers for her side with 1/9 from 3 overs, but all said and done it was a tough evening for her side.