WINS FOR PEMBROKE, MERRION AND MALAHIDE - ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE (AUGUST 20TH)

It was a big night at the top of the table in the Premier League this evening, as Merrion claimed full points to put themselves on the verge of claiming the title, whilst Pembroke's rout of Leinster saw them finish the evening right in the race for 2nd place. There was no play in The Vineyard as the early and overnight rain put paid to chances of cricket there, whilst finally Malahide hammered Clontarf with a win that sees them guarantee a fifth placed finish.

Kicking off with that game, Arlene Kelly was the star with the ball for the home side, as she took 3/9 from her spell to halt the Clontarf charge before it got going, as she and Freya Sargent (2/15) saw the visitors reduced to 9/4 at one stage. Isobel McCormack also took 2/15 in keeping things tight through the middle overs, with only Hannah Pasley mustering any major resistance, making 24 as Clontarf stumbled to 75/8 in 20 overs. The chase was straightforward, Sargent (19) sharing a 54 run opening stand with Meg Thompson who top scored with 39, dismissed with just one run to win as they secured an 8-wicket victory.

In Sydney Parade, Pembroke saw a fine all-round performance with the ball led by Jess Duffy-Mullen, who backed up her form with the bat the previous night (57* in Division 3) by claiming best figures of 2/10 as one of no fewer than 6 wicket-takers as they restricted Leinster to 115/8 in spite of 56 from Aussie Alex Sheedy. The chase was comprehensive, taking just 11.3 overs, as Lou Lou Little starred at the top once again making 48 from just 27 deliveries, whilst there was also 39 for Izzy McLean, the only potential blemish in an excellent evening's work for Pembroke being that they lost their 2nd wicket on the verge of victory and didn't claim full points as a result.

Finally in Jack Harper Park, Rebecca Stokell produced the performance of the night, as a scintillating 122 from just 56 balls including 15 boundaries and 5 maximums, sharing an excellent stand of 196 with Aisling Lawlor who struck 4 boundaries in her 51 as Merrion piled up an excellent total of 215/4 in their 20 overs.

An excellent all-round bowling effort followed from the defending champions, as Bella Armstrong dismissed the dangerous Lara Maritz early on, before two quick wickets for skipper Niamh MacNulty put her side right on top. From there it was all about the spinners, as Julianne Morrissey claimed 2/5, whilst Ashwi Manoj claimed 4/7, repeating the heroics she had in this fixture last season when she claimed a hat-trick, as Balbriggan were rolled over for just 78 to send Merrion clear at the top of the table!