Open Division 13 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2019) - Adam Ellison (Rush) - 827 runs @ 25.06
Most runs in a Division 13 season - Umar Khan (Gorey) - 644 runs (2019)
Highest score - Anthony Coates - 203 - Ringcommons 1 vs Rush 4 - Kenure - 8 Sept 2012
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2019) - Kevin Threadgold (Halverstown/Dublin University) - 78 wkts @ 15.23
Most wickets in a Division 13 season - Stuart Gallagher (Halverstown) -36 wkts (2012)
Best bowling - William Clarke - 8-5 - Phoenix 5 vs Terenure 3 - Phoenix - 29 Apr 2018
Most matches - Kevin Threadgold (Halverstown/Dublin University) - 49 (2013-2019)Highest team score - 380-5 - Ringcommons 1 vs Rush 4 - Kenure - 8 Sept 2012
Lowest team score - 14 all out - Sandyford 3 vs Ringcommons 1 - Marlay Park - 13 May 2012
Team of the Year
Batsmen: Ghanim Dara (Halverstown), David Drane (Greystones) (Div 7 (2013), Div 12 (2012)), Umar Khan (Gorey) (Div 14 (2018)), Saddam Gul (Leinster), Waleed Khan (Leinster)
Wicketkeeper: Foram Mehta (North County) (Div 7 (2017), Div 8 (2016), Div 12 (2015))
Bowlers: Kashif Qazi (North County), Aidan Longstaff (Greystones) (Div 7 (2018), Div 16 (2015)), Muhammad Fawad Rahim (Leinster) (Div 12 (2018)), Anslem Diaz (Gorey) (Div 14 (2018)), Andrew Reynolds (Greystones) (Div 13 (2018))
Review
In Open Division 13, 53 games were played, two walkovers were given and one other game was not played for various reasons (including rain)
Runs per wicket for all teams - 20.57 Runs per over for all teams - 4.60 - Division Competitiveness 88%
Leinster 5 - Champions - (Pos in league - 96 (2018 - 93)) - Batting Rating 154 - Bowling Rating 107 - RpO for 6.92 - RpO against 4.45 - Youth %age (by appearances) 2.1% - Average age of team 30.3
There are enough subtexts and angles in any analysis of this year's Division 13 to fill a substantial article, so we'll start with one thought here, and then sprinkle them throughout. Leinster 5 won Division 13 in a dominant display, that saw them lose only once (in the dead end of season game against runners up Halverstown 1). However, anything less than a league title would have been a disaster for Leinster 5. It was already the lowest they have ever finished in the league and at least by gaining promotion, they can start the process of reaching 2011's 58th place - although five promotions seems unlikely. At the very least it looks as if 2020 will be the first year since 2011, when their league position has not been worse than the year before. Between 2011 and 2018, Leinster 5 were never outside the top three of 5th teams (behind Merrion and Clontarf or Railway Union), but this year they dropped to 4th place for the first time, behind Phoenix. So it looks as if the trend may have been reversed, and a large, solid core of eight players made sure it happened. Three of them made Team of the Year, two of them on account of their batting, which was the basis of Leinster's dominance. Saddam Gul scored the team's only ton (114* against Greystones 2), returning to Leinster after a three year sabbatical from the game. He had four did not bats, three not outs, but still scored 286 at 57.20. The team's top scorer was Waleed Khan, who scored an incredible five 50s and 481 runs at 53.44. In his debut season in Leinster cricket, he found Division 13 to his liking, but before there are any accusations of starring issues, he could only average 12.29 on Leinster 4. Mohammed Shahzad made 322 at 46 and Prabin KC only played three matches but scored 207 at 69. The bowling wasn't as strong, but with seven bowlers getting to 10 wickets, there was so much strength in depth, that even any player unavailability during the season wasn't likely to be felt. Muhammad Fawad Rahim was the best, with 13 wickets at 10.31, and after making the Team of the Year in Division 12 last year, it is no surprise that he was amongst the best bowlers in Division 13. Promotion should probably be on the cards - he only bowled 11 overs on higher teams this season, taking 4 wickets in the process. Mohammad Usman Mir took 13 wickets at 20, followed by Muhammad Bilal Gondal (12 at 14.58), Saddam Gul (11 at 21.55), Ibrahim Rafique (11 at 17.82), Asad Javed (10 at 23.9) and Adarsh Kotwal (10 at 14.30). The aim for 2020 will be to break back in to the top 90 - where they haven't been since 2016.
Halverstown 1 - 2nd - (Pos in league - 97 (2018 - 95)) - Batting Rating 137 - Bowling Rating 96 - RpO for 4.78 - RpO against 4.71 - Youth %age (by appearances) 0% - Average age of team 44.7
There are only two ways in which clubs can get new players (with both having various subsets). Clubs can create from within, which is normally done with youth coaching. Or clubs can attract new players from elsewhere - either from within Ireland or beyond. As we have seen in previous divisions, those teams who are winning leagues are going with the latter approach. Oddly for a team in a big club, Leinster 5 took the approach of very few youth players, and Halverstown 1 have done the same. Another stat in common with Leinster, is that although on the surface Halverstown had a good year, it was the second lowest league placing they have had since 2010, but unlike Leinster, Halverstown have been very consistent since 2013, finishing between 95th and 100th every year. After losing their first two matches, a promotion spot seemed unlikely, but a brilliant ten match unbeaten run took them from the relegation places to near the top. It was a strong squad, with nine players making major contributions, with some big seasons from players who have contributed much to Halverstown's success over the years. Five players have scored over 1000 runs for Halverstown in all Cricket Leinster cricket, with one of those also passing 200 runs in this league season - Richard Greene scoring 207 runs at 34.5. The other run scorers were not quite as high on the career run scoring list - Umer Farroq Nasr scored 327 at 46.71, Gunther Bayer scored 252 at 25.2 and Tim Ronaldson scored 215 at 43. The one to qualify for Team of the Year was Ghanim Dara with a brilliant 292 at 97.33 including 116* away to Pembroke in what was his debut Cricket Leinster season.. Neviile Case has now passed 200 wickets for the club in CL competition, and he was the leading wicket taker again, with 25 wickets at 13.54. John Threadgold is second on the all time list, and he finished second this season, with 19 wickets at 17.21. Umer Farroq Naru added to his runs with 13 wickets at 18.85, Kevin Threadgold took 11 at 30.27 and Vishnu Vardhan Reddy Yannam took 11 at 22.36.
Gorey 1 - 3rd - (Pos in league - 98 (2018 - 105)) - Batting Rating 115 - Bowling Rating 115 - RpO for 4.81 - RpO against 4.01 - Youth %age (by appearances) 25.3% - Average age of team 31.7
A really good season for Gorey 1, who broke into the province's top 100 for the first time, as well as showing that it is possible to be successful with youth players. Two losses to both Leinster and Halverstown perhaps showed that they were a bit off the pace of the two top teams, but they were good for their third place. Umar Khan has dominated Gorey's batting since joining the club in 2017. In all cricket he has scored 1741 runs at 44.64, with no one else getting to 1000 runs. This season he was the leading run scorer in the division, in the process breaking Navid Muhammed's 2013 record of most runs in a Division 13 record - 588 runs for Railway Union 6. Umar Khan scored 644 runs at 58.55, with an amazing three centuries. On top of this, there were 17 wickets at 17.12. Despite his brilliance, Gorey were definitely not a one man team, with Anslem Diaz also making Team if the Year with 18 wickets at 13.17, making it two years in a row after making the Division 14 TotY last year. Youth played a major role, with 17 year old Razwan Ahmed scoring 240 runs at 28.67 and 11 year old Brady Archer looking like a serious player for the future with 11 wickets at 32.18 and 101 runs at 16.83. The batting performances are completed by Ross Norman who hit 256 runs at 25.6, with the bowling attack also having Philip Leonard (19 wickets at 13.37) and Khan Khan (14 at 21.64). Plenty more to come from Gorey.
Greystones 2 - 4th - (Pos in league - 99 (2018 - 100)) - Batting Rating 92 - Bowling Rating 117 - RpO for 4.46 - RpO against 4.43 - Youth %age (by appearances) 9.2% - Average age of team 41.1
In terms of the teams of Greystones, the second string are mere spring chickens, seven years on average younger than their counterparts on the thirds, and only the second oldest squad in the division (after Halverstown 1). David Drane puts a final cherry on what has been an illustrious career cake, being named on the Division 3 Team of the Year, his third such honour. Drane only played inn five matches, but scored 247 runs at 82.33. The team's strength was very much its bowling, and the fact that Drane was the leading run scorer despite only playing that handful of games illustrates the point well. The season started well, and Greystones were 4-1 at the end of May, before a run of five straight losses ruined any chances of the league. A final run of four wins propelled them to 4th. Aidan Longstaff has now moved up to 7th in the all time Greystones wicket taking list with 76 at 20.29, and his contribution to the 2nd's league campaign was 20 wickets at 10.15 to make our Team of the Year - which wasn't much of a surprise as he was in the Division 7 TotY last year. He was joined by Andrew Reynolds, who took 14 wickets at 13.29 (now at 5th on the all time Greystones list). Sunil Shegunasi took 14 wickets at 16.29 in his debut season in Leinster, Andrew Reynolds took 14 at 13.29, 18 year old Thorfinn Newton took 12 at 16.42 and Daniel Joyce took 10 at 16.9.
North County 4 - 5th - (Pos in league - 100 (2018 - 96)) - Batting Rating 84 - Bowling Rating 104 - RpO for 4.29 - RpO against 4.69 - Youth %age (by appearances) 46.8% - Average age of team 25.0
North County 4 are playing at a level fully five divisions where they were four seasons ago, but there is something admirable (in these eyes anyway) in the rebuilding process trusting youth players to turn around the team's fortunes. By far the youngest team in this division, they got a good mix of wisdom and experience alongside youth. Foram Mehta was very much in the former, but the Cuonty keeper made his fourth Team of the Year as the keeper with most dismissals in the division. He was also the leading run scorer, but only scored 199 runs at 18.09, and that lack of a 200+ run scorer shows where most of their problems lay. But some of those bubbling under reveal the future - 14 year old Rohit Singh scored 191 at 19.1 and 15 year old Keegan Laing scored 133 at 22.17. The bowling attack was stronger, with Paddy Mann leading the way with 21 wickets at 20.29, the joint highest number of wickets in a North County 4 league season alongside Anthony Mooney in 2014. 12 year old Ryan Graham took 16 wickets at 16.75, Keega Laig added to his runs with 10 wickets at 18.9, Kashif Qazi took 16 at 9.94 and Daniel Mooney took 11 at 24. Kashif made his first ever Team of the Year on the back of this performance, but it is perhaps no surprise - after returning from a sojourn in Balbriggan, he was tested in North County 4ths before moving back up the teams later in the season.
Merrion 7 - 6th - (Pos in league - 101 (2018 - 94)) - Batting Rating 79 - Bowling Rating 87 - RpO for 4.15 - RpO against 4.78 - Youth %age (by appearances) 32.68% - Average age of team 34.33
Our first look at Merrion this season, and as in previous years there will be nothing but positivity here. Only three clubs put out seven teams in the Open Competitions, and Merrion 7 play at a level so far avove the others (Adamstown 7 were 32 places worse and Leinster 7 33 places worse) that there is no point being negative that have finished progressively lower for the last three seasons. What difference does it make? Only Malahide 5 played a greater proportion of youth players, so it is not as if Merrion 7 is just a retirement home for older players (although if we are being ultra criticial, the youth players didn't really get to contribute this season). Only four matches were won all season, with home and away victories against Pembroke 5 and North County 4. Relegation was avoided, and so as long as everyone enjoyed themselves, then everyone is a winner. Mark Sandys top scored wit the bat with 301 runs at 25.08, backed up by Rishabh Sharma who had a fine all round season with 207 runs at 17.25 and 18 wickets at 17.61. Srikanth Velamati took 16 wickets at 18.44 to complete the set - with no other players really putting their hand up.
Pembroke 5 - 7th - (Pos in league - 102 (2018 - 99)) - Batting Rating 82 - Bowling Rating 86 - RpO for 4.00 - RpO against 4.83 - Youth %age (by appearances) 20.5% - Average age of team 35.7
After Merrion, another club whose lowest team plays in Division 13. And like Merrion, it is difficult to be too critical of a club who have just confirmed themselves as the best on the island with a 1st team, most of whom came up through thte club ranks. One slight criticism of Pembroke has been that their lower teams (from 4th team down) punch below their weight. Back in 2011, it was only Merrion and Leinster who had 5th teams higher than Pembroke. Now, Clontarf and Phoenix are the same. And it's not really as if Pembroke 5 are going in the right direction. They will still be a division lower than Phoenix 5 next year, and Malahide 5 and Adamstown 5 are snapping at their heels. The highlight of the season was very much the away win in Halverstown, when Stephen Willis and Graham Mooney added 103 for the 2nd wicket to overhaul Halverstown's 150. Brendan Ferres played only four games (mainly in May before playing for the 4ths for the rest of the season), but cashed in, scoring 207 at 69. No one else passed 200 though in a batting team that struggled. To make matters worse, we ranked the bowling attack as the weakest in the division. Kieran Vulkar took 15 at 14.6, Andrew Hill 11 at 15 and Sean Smith 10 at 14.7. But with no bowler taking 20 wickets at a low average, there wasn't a single opposition batting line up that really struggled.
Malahide 5 - 8th - (Pos in league - 103 (2018 - 101)) - Batting Rating 84 - Bowling Rating 89 - RpO for 4.29 - RpO against 4.98 - Youth %age (by appearances) 36.6% - Average age of team 33.5
Another season, and another fall in league position - the 7th in a row for Malahide 5. It didn't have to be the way - 23 points extra over the season would have elevated them to 101st which would have been the same as 2018. The only two wins on the pitch were over Merrion, although the first one didn't come until August. There were no 200+ batsmen, but as with some other teams, there were a few positives there. Graeme Tarbox was top with 182 at 20.22, but youth players (Oliver Manks 120 at 30, Elliot Manks 160 at 26.67, Jack Gant 118 at 29.5, Aaron Doyle 146 at 36.5) all contributed well. Sarvjeet Singh was the leading wicket taker with 12 wickets at 19.58 and Danny O'Brien took 10 at 19.2.
The full Division 13 batting averages can be found here, whilst the bowling averages are here