WINS FOR PEMBROKE AND LEINSTER SET-UP SENIOR CUP FINAL!

A brilliant Gavin Hoey century was the catalyst for what was at one stage an unlikely victory for Pembroke in their LHW Financial Planning Leinster Senior Cup semi-final this afternoon!

Four wickets for Yaseen Sherzad, supported by two for Killian McGrane, had reduced Pembroke to 104/7, before Hoey was joined by Paul Lawson, who made 54, his second Senior half century against The Hills. The Pembroke spin duo adding an excellent stand to set up a modest total of 245 all out in their 50 overs.

The Hills were right there in the chase throughout, thanks to 56 for Joe Fletcher. However when the partnership between Nathan Rooney and Tomás Murphy was broken, the hosts were able to turn the screw and finish the game off, as there were two wickets for each of Addison Sherriff, Olly Riley & Byron McDonough in securing a thirteen run victory.

Meanwhile in Observatory Lane, Leinster’s 383/6 was led by a brilliant 123 from just 55 balls for the big-hitting Younas Ahmadzai. He struck 13 fours and seven maximums in his knock which allowed them to compile a massive score.

Monil Patel was second score with 75, whilst Gareth Delany also passed a half-century, making a run-a-ball 69, whilst there was a solid base set by Tom Johnson, who made 45.

North County were behind the 8-ball early on, after losing Lochie Hardy for just 7, before Jamie Grassi was dismissed next ball. Suliman Safi’s 52 was the early resistance, before Eddie Richardson’s 90 from 85 deliveries sought to keep them in the game.

Mark Tonge returned to dismiss Richardson, after which North County’s chase petered out around a first Senior half-century for Jake Devane, who made 64 including ten fours and a six. Bilal Azhar however returned to clean up the tail, finishing with 4/65, whilst Tonge claimed 3/51 from his 10 overs as North County finished 116 runs short.

That means that the LHW Financial Planning Leinster Senior Cup Final will be between Pembroke and Leinster on August 1st in Sydney Parade!