Division 7
With 16 matches already played OCD7 is well advanced. A fast start by North Kildare II has seen them win their first four matches and assume early control of the league. Bagenalstown are also unbeaten and with 2/2 [plus one NR] are close behind the leaders. The match between the two teams on Sunday [4th June] thus takes on an added importance. Ringcommons, who lie in third place, have yet to play either of the leading teams so still have a good opportunity to move into contention for promotion. At the other end of the table North County have become somewhat detached and are the only team yet to win a match. Dundrum II also have work to do to move themselves out of the danger zone, but they may have to wait a while for their best opportunity - their game against 5th place Laois II.
Overall there has been an impressive number of runs scored in D7 with no less than 16 players aggregating more than 100. Declan Moore [Ringcommons] leads the way, with the highest number of runs [269] and the highest average [134.5]. North Kildare’s strength is also in evidence with three players in the top ten of the averages. A feat matched by Wexford Wanderers for whom Haq Nawaz has scored 246 runs. It is also worth noting that YMCA have four players in the batting averages for the division [minimum 100 runs] all from their youth section [Michael Thompson, Tim Tector, Muhammed Samran and Elliott Johns].
Andrew Moore, also from Ringcommons, leads the bowling averages [min 20 overs] with 10 wickets at 7.10. The top wicket taker, who lies second in the averages is Muhammed Samran [12 wickets at 12.83]. The top bowlers are well distributed around the team with YMCA having three in the top 10.
Division 8
13 matches have taken place in OCD8 which is a seven team league. The table has split in two with the top four teams on three plus wins and the last three on none. Pembroke have taken the top spot with four wins put of five matches played, but are being closely chased by Swords and Clontarf IV who each have only one loss so far this season. Swords and Clontarf play each other in the only match at this level over the weekend, a game that may well determine who has the best chance of overhauling the leaders.
Only ten players have scored 100 runs or more in the league with Benlee Muttathottil [Swords] topping the averages with 2367 runs at an average of 118.5. Pembroke’s Ahmed Shovon has most runs [266] and The Hills [3rd XI] has three players in averages all from their youth section [Andrew Kavanagh, Harry Archer and Ryan Tobin]. Jinu George [Swords] leads the bowling averages with nine wickets at an average of 10. Race Garland is the top wicket taker with nine. The Hills again are well represented with four players in the top ten of the bowling. Two more youth players included Heinrick Walser and Killian Everard as well as Archer who appears on both lists.
Division 9
Another seven team league, this time with Dublin University II on the top of the table with three wins out of three. With only 11 completed matches it is really too early to think about predicting which teams are likely to be in contention for honours and which in a struggle to survive. Phoenix IV have managed three wins and are in best position to challenge the leaders - and they will have the opportunity this weekend when the two go head to head in the Phoenix Park.
At the other end of the table there are four teams within a single win of each other. Civil Service have yet to secure a win but have only played two games against the two top teams so perhaps not too much should be read into that.
Even allowing for the relatively paucity of matches the scoring has been light, with only four players making it past the 100 run mark. Sankeerth Karpe has dome this in one innings for Phoenix and tops the averages with 104, but the highest run scorer is Arslan Mehmood [also from Phoenix] who is the only player into the 200s. Dublin University dominate the bowling averages taking the top two places and three of the top ten [min 5 wickets] with Nitin Rajwar taking six wickets for 4.5. Joint top wickets takers are Damian Joyce [Wicklow] and Shahzad Mirza [Slieve Bloom] with eight.
Division 10
And finally to Division 10 where Clondalkin and Castleknock II are undefeated with three wins each in an eight team league which has been badly hit by the weather and where there are only 11 completed matches. Five of the remaining sides, including third placed Greystones II, have one or less wins to their credit. So again it is very early to say how the league is shaping up. The weekend fixture between Greystones and Clondalkin is worth noting.
Seven players have reached the 100 runs mark including Sandeep Shahdeo [Cabinteely] who has already amassed 279 in four innings. But he is not top of the averages - that position goes to Regin Samuel [Dundalk] with 114 and only out once. Muhammed Bona [Castelknock] leads the bowling averages with 7 wickets at 5.14. Pijush Sharma [Cabinteely] has the most wickets - 9.
Information on the performances of all players can be got by going to the Data Centre.