Delaney and Paul Lead Merrion to Victory over Pembroke as Leinster win Title

On a dark, rainy night in Anglesea Road, Leah Paul and Rachel Delaney shone brightly as Merrion had a narrow 7-run (DLS) victory over Pembroke, as Leinster retained their Division 1 title without playing.

Both Paul (60*) and Delaney (50*) scored half-centuries as Merrion piled on 157/1 off their 20-over allocation.

The DLS calculations were made at the halfway mark and were always likely to be needed as the evening closed in.

Clare Shillington (26) and LouLou Little (18) got the visitors off to a flying start and had Pembroke ahead of the par score for many of the early overs.

However, when Shillington was run out by Delaney in the 9^th over, the score was 62/2 and suddenly the calculations tightened up even more.

The rain continued to fall, and the night closed in ever further, as both happened the scoreboard lights became ever more prominent.

Eventually, after 15 overs, the umpires decided that enough was enough and took the players from the field. The rain had been falling steadily and it was getting harder and harder to track the ball.

Despite the best efforts of Orla Prendergast (23*) and Shauna Kavanagh (13*) Pembroke were 7 runs short of the par score when the players left the field and Merrion had the victory by DLS.

Elsewhere on Thursday night, Leinster against YMCA at Observatory Lane was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Though this was a disappointment for the players not to play, there was consolation for the home side as the no result means Leinster retain their Division 1 title. Congratulations to Laura Delany and her side.

The final game scheduled for Thursday between Clontarf and The Hills was called off due to the rain.

Sprint Coatings Division 1 20-over

Merrion v Pembroke, Anglesea Road, Thursday August 27^th    

Merrion 157/1 20 Overs (L Paul 60*, R Delaney 50*; O Prendergast 1-24)

Pembroke 101/2 15 Overs (C Shillington 26, O Prendergast 23*)

Merrion won by 7 runs (DLS)