A second wicket partnership of 117 in just 17 overs between Ben Beecroft and Simi Singh was the main difference as Phoenix cruised into the semi-finals of the IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup.
Both batted sublimely, playing shots all around the ground and powering massive sixes at will too. In the 20th over Singh planted three maximums over long-on as the accelerator was kept pushed to the floor.
Beecroft was beautiful to watch with ten boundaries and just the two sixes, he manoeuvred the field and threaded the gaps all day. He deserved to carry his bat alongside Singh but was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker’s end with just six runs required.
Earlier, Louis McDonough had got the chase off to a flying start with seven boundaries in his 39 before Kelvin Donnelly upended his off-stump. Another elegant batsman, McDonough played more than his part in an opening stand of 75 with Beecroft, the first time Phoenix passed 50 this season.
In the first innings Malahide lost wickets at regular intervals and didn’t have anyone to build a partnership with the excellent Damien Mortimer.
Mortimer was last man out having come in after the seventh ball of the innings and set about anchoring the home side’s batting effort. The Ford brothers were the heroes in Saturday’s Irish Senior Cup match, but they were out in successive overs on Sunday with nobody passing 25 in support of Mortimer.
https://twitter.com/cricketleinster/status/1132690538057129986
Poonish Mehta bowled well for his 2 for 25, while Matt Lunson and Amish Sidhu also picked up a brace of wickets. It was a real team effort with the ball for Phoenix as Ben White, Simi Singh and Gordy Millar all chipped in with a wicket each too.
As a result, Phoenix advance to face Merrion in the semi-finals of the League Cup next Saturday. Malahide do have the consolation of having finished in the top four in Group A and will play Premier League cricket after the playoffs are completed.
In Group A’s other matches, YMCA crushed Railway Union by 157 runs after bowling them out for just 66. Jack Tector struck 78 for YMCA before James Parkinson took 4-7 and Fionn Hand took 3-6 in bowling Railway out.
North County were all but mathematically consigned to finishing 5th before play began but defeat to a Lorcan Tucker inspired Dublin University means they will finish in 6th place with just one win in the Group.
In Group B, all eyes were on Kenure and Rush versus Balbriggan. The winner would play Premier League cricket, the loser finish fifth and play Championship cricket.
Rush captain Neil Rock was the hero of the day with a scintillating 150 that included 14 fours and ten sixes, as the home side compiled 351 off their allocation. Rock was almost outshone however as Clinton Hinchcliffe scored 142 and brought Balbriggan to within six of the Rush total.
It was close but not quite close enough as Rush squeezed home and will play in the Premier League alongside Malahide, apt given they were the top two in Division 2 in 2018.
Theo Lawson continued his stunning form with the bat as another century led Pembroke to an 8-wicket victory over Clontarf. This sees Pembroke qualify for the semi-finals and a meeting with The Hills next Saturday.
The final game in Group B saw a brilliant example of the competitive nature of cricket in Leinster. Terenure who have fought gamely throughout the Group stages without gaining a victory had a morale boosting and thoroughly deserved 35-run victory over Leinster.
Opener Jack Webster led the way with the bat striking a magnificent 96, it was such a pity he couldn’t complete his century. Terenure posted 244 and a determined team effort in the field meant Leinster were bowled out for 209.
Awaiting receipt of full scorecards and confirmation of final points tallies the semi-finals of the Leinster Senior League Cup will see Merrion host Phoenix and Pembroke visit The Hills next Saturday.
While the 2019 Premier League will comprise The Hills, Merrion, Phoenix, Pembroke, Malahide, Leinster, YMCA and Rush.
IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup Group A
Malahide v Phoenix, Sunday May 26th, The Village
Malahide 197 a/o 44.3/50 overs (D Mortimer 83; P Mehta 2-25, M Lunson 2-38, A Sidhu 2-45)
Phoenix 201/2 31.2/50 overs (S Singh 79*, B Beecroft 79, L McDonough 39)