YMCA overcome Phoenix to earn place in the Senior League Cup Final

Tom Anders ripped through the Phoenix middle-order as YMCA had a four-wicket win in the LHW Financial Planning Leinster Senior League Cup semi-final in the Park on Saturday.

YMCA won the toss and opted to bowl and that decision was vindicated in the first over when Ben White, who had been promoted in the order, was stumped by JJ Cassidy off the bowling of Anders (4-18).

Backed up by tight bowling from Mikey O’Reilly (2-14) and Simi Singh (2-23) trapping both Jamie Grassi (19) and Jeremy Lawlor (12) LBW in the 10^th over, Phoenix were just 43/3 at the halfway mark of their innings.

Anders returned to take the next three Phoenix wickets, two identical catches at long-off for Singh to remove Chester (14) and Maginnis (8), before McDonough was LBW first ball.

Aaron Cawley (14), Stephen Black (14) and Theo Dempsey (10) added some late runs but O’Reilly came back into the attack to take the final two wickets and finish the Phoenix innings at 102 all out.

Jack Tector (24) looked in really good nick striking four boundaries in his brief innings before he was the second YMCA wicket to fall when he trod on his wicket playing a Ben White delivery off the back foot.

At 33/2 in the fifth over, Harry Tector (32) and Curtis Campher (11) came together.

Harry Tector has been in fine form with the bat this season and he continued to display his abilities here. YMCA had a little wobble when Campher pulled White to Chester at mid-wicket and Tim Tector was caught at mid-off the next over.

The key over was the 12^th however, as Harry Tector, on 17 at the time and YMCA 71/4, was put down at mid-off from a relatively good chance.

A glorious straight drive from Tector and five wides, meant that the over went for 17 in total and the game had swung fully in YMCA’s favour.

Tector didn’t quite see his side home and YMCA stumbled to their target of 103 for the loss of six wickets after Bobby Gamble (8) also fell.

Semi-finals are about winning and getting through to the final though, and thanks to Tom Anders wickets and the crucial runs from both Jack and Harry Tector, it is YMCA who progress to face Railway Union in that final next Saturday at Sydney Parade.

LHW Financial Planning Leinster Senior League Cup 20-over

Semi-Final

Phoenix v YMCA, Phoenix Park, Saturday September 5^th      

Phoenix 102 a/o 19.3 Overs (J Grassi 19; T Anders 4-18, H Tector 2-13, M O’Reilly 2-14, S Singh 2-23)

YMCA 103/6 16 Overs (H Tector 32, J Tector 24; A Cawley 2-25, B White 2-27)

YMCA won by 4 wickets