Division 16 review - Part 2

In the second part of our Division 16 preview, we look in more detail at each of the eight teams. Craig Senior's Fantasy review can be found at http://www.cricketleinster.ie/news/division-16-review-part-1 with the pre-season preview for Division 16 at http://www.cricketleinster.ie/news/division-16-review-eight-new-teams-join-the-fun

Division 16 stats

Leading all time run scorer (2011-2015) - Sunil Kant Trikha (Carlow) - 528 runs @ 75.43
Most runs in a Division 16 season - Sunil Kant Trikha (Carlow) - 528 runs (2015)
Highest score - Sunil Kant Trikha (Carlow) - 156 - Carlow 1 vs Bagenalstown 3 - Carlow RFC - 7 June 2015
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2015) - Aj Malhan (North Kildare) - 33 wkts @ 8.52
Most wickets in a Division 16 season - Aj Malhan (North Kildare) - 33 wkts (2015)
Best bowling - Luqman Ali (Ashbourne) - 6-21 - Ashbourne 1 vs North Kildare 4 - Clongowes - 27 June 2015

Highest team score - 440-6 - Carlow 1 vs Bagenalstown 3 - Carlow RFC - 7 June 2015
Lowest team score - 35 all out - Bagenalstown 3 vs Civil Service 5 - Civil Service - 24 May 2015

Review

Carlow 1 - Champions - (Predicted 7th) - Batting Rating 152 - Bowling Rating 142

The surprise package of 2015, Carlow dominated the division. By the end of July, they had won their first seven games, and their was little doubt that the title would be their's. A late stumble, which saw them lose for the only time all season, against North Kildare meant that there was a small possibility that they could be beaten to the title, but they ended with a healthy 15% lead over Ashbourne 1. Carlow's strength was very much their batting, led by Sunil Kant Trikha. Only Trikha and Rocky Butt passed 200 runs for the season, but these two were so dominant, that others were not needed. Trikha's previous form possibly hinted at the possibilities - for Bagenalstown 1 in 2011, he scored 49, 31, 9, 52 and 19*, but four seasons have passed, and further success wasn't guaranteed. He bestrode the division though, and Carlow were able to bat most teams out of the match. The bowling was not as dominant, but two players making their debut in Leinster competitions - Rocky Butt and Arsalan Khalid - were the leading wicket takers with 19 and 16 wickets respectively. 23 players were used across the league season, which suggests Carlow have plenty of strength in depth, and should be able to press on in 2016.

Ashbourne 1 - Runners up - (Predicted 1st) - Batting Rating 120 - Bowling Rating 134

It was always a possibility that the experience of a few Ashbourne players who had played league cricket before would come to the fore - and so it proved. Terry Bruton (formerly of Knockharley) had his best ever season, with 406 runs at 45.11, with Jeff Conway (with cup experience with Bell's Academy and Ashbourne last year) hit 256 runs at 23.27. The bowling was Ashbourne's real strength though. Sulaman Ahmad was the leading wicket taker with 20 at 17.10, and he was ably supported by Luqman Ali, Jeff Conway, Vipin Baby and Tom McNamara, who all took over ten wickets, The crucial match of the season; and in fact the crucial performance, was Luqman Ali's 6-21 against North Kildare in June. North Kildare were dismissed for 120, allowing Ashbourne to sneak home by 2 wickets. At the end of the season, Ashboune sneaked into second spot by four per cent - and it was that win that was the difference.

North Kildare 4 - 3rd - (Predicted 3rd) - Batting Rating 105 - Bowling Rating 126

As can be seen from Craig Senior's analysis of the stats in Division 16. AJ Malhan was the undoubted star all rounder in the league this year. Four players passed the 200 run/10 wicket mark (Malhan, Butt, Conway and Rajesh Yadav, also of North Kildare), but only Malhan went past 300 runs/15 wickets. In fact he also went past 400 runs/20 wickets, and 500 runs/25 wickets - a remarkable return. Shahid Khan had a decent return with the bat (230 at 23), with Yadav also contributing well. Although they missed out on promotion, it was only down to that one loss to Ashbourne in June - such can be the margins in league cricket.

AIB 1 - 4th - (Predicted 2nd) - Batting Rating 100 - Bowling Rating 117

It would be unduly harsh to say AIB's league season was a failure. In their first year of league cricket, they came fourth in a league with three strong teams ahead of them. The only reason for that hint of what wasn't achieved is down to the potential in the club, and an excitement of what could be achieved in years to come. As the club expected, availability was something of an issue, but as a result of that, 33 players turned out for the team at some point. The batting proved to be the team's undoing, with no one passing 200 runs (Sana Ullah was best with 181 at 30.17). The bowling was the side's real strength, led by Danish Iqbal. He took 20 wickets at 12.30. The season itself started badly - they lost three of the first four matches, before a mid season recovery in July saw four wins on the bounce. Expect a big season next year.

Adamstown 5 - 5th - (Predicted 4th) - Batting Rating 94 - Bowling Rating 96

A massive 38 players played for Adamstown 5 during the league season, a total that is fully understandable in a club that has rapidly expanded in the last few years. That large turnover meant that the results were a bit disjointed, and not surprisingly, very few players managed to put a full season's work in. Mayank Chauhan was top scorer with 136 runs at 22.67, and although the bowling was a bit better, it was only Chauhan's 13 wickets at 10.85 that need to be noted. At the end of May, Adamstown had won their first three matches (although that included a brace of wins over eventual bottom placed Bagenalstown 3), and thereafter they only recorded one more win. Another side that will improve in 2016.

Greystones 4 - 6th (Predicted 6th) - Batting Rating 100 - Bowling Rating 83

It's not hard to see where Greystones struggled - their batting ranked 100 (the same as the "average" Division 16 batting line up), whereas their bowling was a below average 83. But it is easy to forget that Greystones are only in their fourth season, with a brand new ground, and with the 4ths having their first season. Once the new Greystones - Druids Glen venue was ready, and with the team finding its feet, they won three of the last six matches, and they are yet another team that will improve. Martin Potts provided a bit of experience to the batting order with 243 runs at 27, and he was supported by Aidan Longstaff with 203 at an excellent 50.75. However, none of the bowlers reached 10 wickets, with Potts and Andrew Reynolds taking nine.

Civil Service 5 - 7th (Predicted 5th) - Batting Rating 110 - Bowling Rating 77

The third best batting line up in the division - but the second worst bowling attack. The only two wins were against Bagenalstown 3 who finished below them, but yet it is important to remember that this is the first year that Service's 5th team have been back in the league, and there is more to cricket than merely results. Noel Marks was by far and away the top batsman for Service with 240 runs at 30, and Matthew Nugent topped the wicket taking charts with 10 wickets at 20.70.

Bagenalstown 3 - 8th (Predicted 8th) - Batting Rating 53 - Bowling Rating 62

In 2014, 40 players played for Bagenalstown. This year 49 players took the field, a near 25% increase that shows the hard work being put in by the club. On the pitch, results weren't quite as impressive, but as has already been stated, there is more than just results to consider in Division 16. Stephen Hadley had a fine all round season with 168 runs at 16.8 and 15 wickets at 23.80, and Colin O'Neill (20 at 23.10) and Robbie O'Neill (14 at 29.21) also had good returns.

Division 16 batting averages 2015 (Qualification 100 runs)

Division 16 Bowling averages 2015 (Qualification 6 wickets)