​Alan Murray [R2 2018] - Round

Current holders Clontarf in poll position. 

An exciting series of matches with enough drama to keep even the most avid fans of Eastenders happy. The interpretations of the results and therefore the permutations on what clubs need to do to qualify for the knock-out stages are at the best of times complex. This year, with an abandoned game and the effects of the withdrawal of North Kildare to take into account, an even higher level of warning around the unofficial table below is required. Basically, until the OCC rules the table below represents only one interpretation of where the current state of play rests.

So we will forebear talking about the detailed consequences until we know more and instead look at the broad picture. The story of the day is the fall from grace of Balbriggan [losing both games at home] and the resurgence of Leinster [two wins after losing both games, also at home, last weekend]. Alongside this YMCA won twice and have surely done enough to qualify, alongside Phoenix and The Hills, for the next stage. Clontarf lead the table and are the only team to have definitely qualified for the QFs. But they may still need points to secure a home fixture. At the other end of the table Railway Union and Terenure are out. This means that going into the last round 12 teams have something to play for [other than pride] and at least 8 still have work to do to secure progression.

Turning to the matches themselves. First the drama. In the fourth over the game between Merrion and The Hills was abandoned by the umpires on the grounds that the pitch was too dangerous. I leave others to deal with the inquests on this. On the field Clontarf and Munster Heat played out an exciting tie - 165 runs each. Clontarf batted with their runs coming from Pienaar [83] and Poynter [40]. There were contributions throughout the Munster innings [five players over 20] and a helpful 20 extras. In two other close games Phoenix beat Munster by 3 runs and North County beat Railway by 6 runs. The remainder of the results produced fairly comfortable wins for T20s.

The individual performances of the day - centuries for David Langford Smith for Merrion in their win over Balbriggan and for Gareth Delany for Leinster in their win over Rush. Other notable [and known] performances, half centuries [83 and 61] for Abraham Piennar of Clontarf and a 91 from Oliver Gunning and 76 for Asher Abbasi for YMCA against North County.

Bowlers are often treated as cannon fodder in T20s so it is worth mentioning critical contributions - Shariful Islam 3/12 off 3 overs [Clontarf v Phoenix], Eddie Richards taking the first three wickets in North County’s close win over Railway [3/25 in four] and Jarred Barnes who took 3/14 off 4 overs for YMCA v Railway,

The summary results, updates during the day and some scorecards are available under Results. The provisional Table is set out below with more than the usual caveats. 

Match Report: LHK Insurance Alan Murray Cup Clontarf v Phoenix

Clontarf won the toss, and on a beautiful day at Castle Avenue and batted first. They were immediately in trouble when the prolific Bill Coghlan fell for 0 on the 5th ball of the innings, caught by Gordon Millar off the bowling of Richie Lawrence. Obus Pienaar then joined Kelly and things got better. The pair brought the score to 77 before Kelly was stumped off the bowling of Ben White. Pienaar fell 22 runs later bowled by Rory Anders for an entertaining 61 from 35 balls with 11 fours. Robert Forrest fell to Millar for 9 caught by Fletcher Coutts. Declan Gallagher also fell for 9 stumped by Sine Tsotsa from the bowling of Reinhardt Strydom. Joe Morrissey not out 13 and David Delany not out 29 brought Clontarf to 164 for 6 in their 20 overs. Probably a par score. Millar 2-23, Lawrence 1-17, Strydom 1-32, White 1-23 and Anders 1-27 the wicket takers.

Reinhardt Strydom and Adam Chester opened for Phoenix and they were soon in trouble. Strydom was caught by Pienaar off the bowling of Joe Morrissey for 0 and Chester was run out by Pienaar for 6, Phoenix 18-2 early in their reply. Fletcher Coutts and Brad Kneebone quickly brought the score to 41 when Coutts fell caught by Andrew Poynter off the bowling of Shariful Islam for 24. Kneebone was bowled by Islam for 11 soon after. Rory Anders was caught by Poynter again off Islam for 13. Thomas Anders settling in to play the anchor role for the rest of the innings. David Vernon was bowled by Faisal Zaman for 3 and Sine Tsotsa caught by Robert Forrest off the bowling of Conor Kelly also for 3. Phoenix now 85-7 in the 14th over. Ben White and Thomas Anders brought the score to 106 when Kelly removed Anders, caught by Islam for a well made 32. Ben White had moved on to 23 when he was caught by Joe Morrissey off the bowling of Obus Pienaar. Richie Lawrence last man out for 6, stumped by Robert Forrest off the bowling of Sameer Dutt. Gordon Millar not out 1. Phoenix all out for 135 in 18.3 overs. Shariful Islam 3-12 took the bowling honours. Kelly 2-26, Zaman 1-17, Pienaar 1-19, Dutt 1-22 and Morrissey 1-27 the other wicket takers. Clontarf running out winners by 29 runs.