Allowing time for three re-fixtures from Round 1 on the 16th May, we now go into first break in the Mason Alexander / LHW Financial Planning Premier League. With the next round of matches scheduled for 26th May this gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we have learnt so far. But first the results from a sunny Bank Holiday Monday.

Pembroke got their first opportunity to defend a 200 plus score this season and came through with the narrowest of victories. That they even got to 223/9 was thanks to a half century by Josh Little. His 56 in 53 balls was his first senior 50 and it certainly came at a critical time for his team. The pick of the bowlers from The Hills was Albert van der Merve who took 3/46. The Hills got off to a steady start with the first six bats getting into double figures. But none went on to make a decisive score. Still at 175/4 with overs remaining the home team should have had the game in the bag. Wickets for Little [3/31] and Jack Balbirnie [3/22] precipitated the collapse. Pembroke also won the battle of the extras, conceding just half those of The Hills [see below].

The ‘Match of the Day’ between Phoenix and Clontarf was also a well contested, and relatively low scoring, affair. Batting first Phoenix made 186 thanks to half centuries from Reinhardt Strydom [55] and Rory Anders [66] and at the midway point this seemed a little short of par. But Phoenix bowled well and the Clontarf batting line-up simply did not get going. Abraham Pienaar battled for an undefeated 52* but there was no-one to stay with him and Clontarf were bowled out for 162 in the 43rd over. Phoenix win by 24 runs.

An undefeated 136* by Jack Tector [the first century of the season in the Premier league] allowed YMCA to post an excellent total of 279/3 in their 50 overs. There was support from Oliver Gunning [30] and another half century by Simi Singh [66]. Although North County kept in the hunt for a good while with six players getting more than 25 - no one went on to make 50 and in the end the inning closed on 227 in 48 overs. YMCA win by 52 runs.

Leinster were never able to settle as the Merrion attack for the third time this season took out the opposition for a low score. This time it was Max Neville who in an aggressive spell did the damage taking 4/41 - all from the top order. In the end the Leinster total of 124 was easily navigated as the openers, Dom Joyce [60*] and Jack Carty [53] put on a century opening stand. It was a day of records for Merrion players as Dom Joyce passed 7,000 career runs. Patrick Tice equalled the highest number of dismissals by a keeper for Merrion - the others were Ken McDonald and Kade Beasley [twice], and Max Neville’s 4/41 was a career best in senior cricket.

With three re-fixtures in the first set of matches there is probably still more to say about the early season but a few themes seem to be coming through. it is a highly competitive league with all teams having won and lost at least one match. Merrion and YMCA are the early leaders - the former based on what is looking like a very formidable bowling attack and the latter built on strong batting from their top order. But one needs to be careful not to read too much into early results. The very poor weather leading into the season has meant that it has been difficult to prepare pitches. The bowling friendly conditions has led to a number of low scoring matches. As the weather [hopefully] improves and conditions change other teams will have their time in the sun.

Finally, in terms of the league table, there are five teams bunched with ten points with one win each. And Merrion has amassed just about enough bonus points to constitute an additional win. Merrion, also top the Gratuity Index [for most extras - but excluding leg-byes and runs off no-balls or free hits] as the most generous bowling team. But perhaps this is aligned to the nature and effectiveness of the attack.