IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE & CHAMPIONSHIP

SATURDAY 10.6.2023

MERRION & YM SECURE FIRST WINS WHILST CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS GO WITH FORM

PREMIER LEAGUE – WINS FOR MERRION, THE HILLS, LEINSTER

Merrion v Railway Union (Anglesea Road)

Railway Union 194 All Out off 35.5 overs (Riley Mudford 79, Fakhar Zaman 37, Liam McCarthy 22; Sam Harbinson 3-15, Max Sorensen 3-32, Hugh Kennedy 3-48)

Merrion 151-5 off 27.2 overs (Sam Harbinson 70*, Franco Marais 31; Liam McCarthy 2-17)

Merrion won by 5 wkts on DLS

Riley Mudford once again anchored the Railway innings as he top-scored with 79. Wickets fell at regular internals as Max Sorensen and Sam Harbinson to deliver combined figures of 6-47 off 12.5 overs. Fakhar Zaman (37 including 4 X 6s) and Liam McCarthy (22) both offered some support to Mudford in an otherwise ordinary batting display from Railway, being bowled out with a full 14 overs unused. Hugh Kennedy wrapped up the tail with 3-48 from his 9 overs.

In reply, Merrion faltered badly with three wickets falling with the score on 37 to leave the home side reeling at 37-4 off just 8.2 overs. Sam Harbinson and Franco Marais then set about rebuilding for Merrion before a rain delay with the score on 99-4 resulted in a revised DLS target of 151. Franco Marais was run out shortly after the resumption but Harbinson guided Merrion to victory supported by his captain, the experienced Dom Joyce.

Best of the Railway bowlers was their captain, Liam McCarthy with 2-17 including both openers (Carty & Doheny).

An important win for Merrion after their week one loss to Balbriggan.

Malahide v Leinster (The Village)

Malahide 301-4 off 50 overs (Hunter Kindley 102, Jamie Grassi 83, Younas Ahmadzai 71; Peter Francis 2-69. Bilal Azhar 2-74)

Leinster 234-6 off 31.1 overs (Monil Patel 59, Bilal Azhar 50,Peter Francis 35*, Michael Hogan 34: Cameron Shoebridge 2-44)

Leinster won by 4 wkts on DLS

Malahide posted the highest target of the day and still found themselves on the losing side. The Malahide innings was largely built on a brilliant opening partnership of 174 between Hunter Kindley and Jamie Grassi (83 including 9 X 4s) as both batsmen accumulated runs at a steady rate. Kindley went on to complete a fine century (102 including 12 boundaries) combining very effectively with Younas Ahmadzai to add 59 for the second wicket. Ahmadzai gave the latter part of the innings great momentum as his 71 came off just 33 balls and included 5 fours and 6 maximums).

Both openers were ultimately dismissed by Bilal Azhar who finished with figures of 2-74 off his 10 overs whilst Peter Francis also chipped in with 2-69 in a challenging day for the Leinster attack.

With the second innings of this game also impacted by rain, Leinster were set a revised target of 233 off 34 overs via DLS. 

The Leinster openers Bilal Azhar (50) and Michael Hogan (34) started well putting on 85 for the first wicket before Monil Patel added further impetus to the chase with 58 off 40 balls (6 X 4s, 2 X 6s). He was well supported by Peter Francis who finished unbeaten on 35*.

For Malahide, Cameron Shoebridge took two important wickets of Joey Carroll and Monil Patel (when he was well set). 

An important win for Leinster who have now started their Premier League return with 2 wins from 2.

The Hills v Clontarf (The Vineyard)

Clontarf 177 All Out off 47.5 overs (Eoghan Delany 66, David Vincent 34, Bobbo Forrest 31; Sean McNicholl 5-24, Nicolaj Laegsgaard 4-34)

The Hills 157-4 off 35.4 overs (Murray Commins 59, Mark Donegan 47*, Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin 31)

The Hills won by 6 wkts on DLS

Opening the batting at The Vineyard for the visitors, Eoghan Delany largely anchored the Clontarf innings with 66 off 113 balls. He put on 60 for the first wicket with David Vincent (34) and a further 55 for the fifth wicket with Bobbo Forrest (31). Nicolaj Laegsgaard bowled very effectively taking 4-34 off his allotted 10 overs including the important wickets of Vincent, Eoghan Delany, Cronje and Poynter. Sean McNicholl then ran through the late Clontarf order to finish with 5-24 off his 8.5 overs.

In reply, The Hills reached 103-3 off 24 overs before a rain delay resulted in a revised DLS target of 157 in 41 overs. Murray Commins (59) and Mark Donegan then combined very effectively for a match-winning partnership of 99 to see the home side over the line in some style with overs to spare.Donegan was unbeaten at the end on 47*. 

A big win for The Hills who remain unbeaten after the first 2 rounds whilst Clontarf find themselves winless at the same stage.

Balbriggan v YMCA (Jack Harper Park)

Balbriggan 266-9 off 50 overs (Greg Ford 95, Matt Pollard57, Cameron Rowe 36, Ghanim Dara 22; Tom Anders 3-36, Ashley Burton 3-61, Olly Riley 2-48)

YMCA 238-6 off 37.5 overs (Adam Rosslee 111, Ashley Burton 43, Tim Tector 28; Farooq Nasr 2-29)

YMCA won by 4 wkts on DLS.

This game was switched from Claremont Road to Jack Harper Park arising from the recent grounds issues at YM.

Balbriggan batted first on home soil with some useful contributions up-front from Cameron Rowe (36) and Ghanim Dara (22). Tom Anders then counter-attacked for YM with the ball removing Dara, Nasr and DeFreitas to leave Balbriggan on 71-4 after 19 overs. But Balbriggan bat deep and Greg Ford (captain) then set about rebuilding the innings with Matt Pollard as the pair put on 128 for the fifth wicket before Pollard fell for a well made 57 (5 X 4s, 2 X 6s). Greg Ford was seventh out for a well made 95 with the score on 244. Useful late order contributions meant that Balbriggan finished the innings setting YM a formidable 267 for victory.

With rain interruptions, this target was revised to 238 off 40 via DLS. Matt Pollard then removed Jack Tector with the first ball of the YM reply but fellow opener Tim Tector (28) set about rebuilding the innings alongside overseas professional, Adam Rosslee. The score had reached 70-2 after 14.2 overs when a further rain interruption occurred. Rosslee and Ashley Burton then combined to put on a vital 127 runs for the 4^thwicket with Rosslee completing a brilliant century (111 off 93 balls including 10 X 4s and 4 X 6s). The dismissal of Rosslee was quickly followed by the run out of Burton for a well-made 43 to leave YM 5-down with still 20 runs needed for victory. In the end, YM prevailed to secure their first win and inflict a rare defeat on the 2022 Champions.

The wickets were shared across the Balbriggan attack with Farooq Nasr the most successful with 2-29.

CHAMPIONSHIP – WINS FOR PHOENIX, RUSH, PEMBROKE & NORTH COUNTY

Cork County v Phoenix (The Mardyke)

Cork County 141 All Out off 41.5 overs (Stefano Di Bartolomeo 51; Amish Sidhu 3-22, Theo Dempsey 3-36, Jed Wiggins 2-27)

Phoenix 142-2 off 22.3 overs (Levon Shields 65*, Jed Wiggins 31

Phoenix won by 8 wkts

Phoenix travelled to the Mardyke to face Cork County who were looking to recover from two heavy defeats to Pembroke last weekend. Whilst a number of players got starts for Cork, there was no significant contribution as the Phoenix bowlers combined very effectively to restrict the hosts to just 141 with 8 overs unused. There was only one significant contribution with the bat for Cork with their Italian overseas professional, Stefano Di Bartolomeo top scoring with 51 off 69 balls including 5 boundaries). Best of the Phoenix bowlers were Amish Sidhu (3-22 off 10), Theo Dempsey (3-36) and Jed Wiggins who chipped in with 2-27).

Phoenix chased down the required runs in just over 22 overs with Levon Shields finishing unbeaten on 65 off just 59 balls (including 9 X 4s). Shields was well supported by Jed Wiggins as the pair put on 85 for the second wicket and set up a relatively facile win for the visitors.

Terenure v Pembroke (Terenure)

Terenure 154 All Out off 37.5 overs (Seamus Lynch 77; Gavin Hoey 4-52, Nick Stapleton 3-28))

Pembroke 133-3 off overs (Diarmaid Tucker 41, Macdara Cosgrave 34*, Theo Lawson 28* ; Raghav Grover 3-52)

Pembroke won by 7 wkts on DLS

As is often the case, the Terenure innings was largely built on an excellent 77 from Seamus Lynch (which included 6 X 4s and 5 X 6s). Wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end with Nick Stapleton (3-28 off 9) again making early in-roads removing both Henry Dall and Raghav Grover in the third over of the match. Gavin Hoey (4-52) also contributed well with the ball. Fiachra Tucker was the sixth bowler used by Pembroke and had an immediate impact removing Seamus Lynch in his only over with the score on 135.

With a rain interruption in late afternoon, Pembroke’s target was revised to 133 on a DLS basis. Opener Diarmaid Tucker led the chase with 41 (including 9 X 4s) before coming Raghav Grover’s second victim with the score on 66. Grover finished with 3-52 but Pembroke completed a relatively straight-forward chase with an unbeaten 4^th wicket partnership of 46 between Theo Lawson and MacDara Cosgrave

North Kildare v Rush (The Maws)

Rush 177 All Out off 34.1 overs (Andrew Doheny 34*, Brandon Morris 32, Lew Johnson 27, Cian Egerton 22; Shahrukh Shamim 6-46, Husnain Maroof 2-48)

North Kildare 94 All Out off 25.2 overs (Samran Patel 33; Cian Egerton 5-20, Jarred Barnes 2-10)

Rush won by 81 runs on DLS.

Batting first at The Maws after a delayed start, Rush will have been disappointed to find themselves struggling at 113-8 off 19.4 overs with Lew Johnson (27) and Cian Egerton (25) making the only meaningful contributions from the top order. Andrew Doheny (34*) then combined well with Brandon Morris (32) and then Daniel Coffey to add 64 precious runs for the last two wickets.

It was a solid performance from North Kildare in the field – best of the bowling was undoubtedly Shahrukh Shamim with 6-46 off 9.1 overs supported by Husnain Maroof (2-48) who combined to great effect for the home side.

With the slight reduction in overs, North Kildare were set a target of 176 for victory over their allotted overs. Despite a solid 33 from opener Samran Patel, the North Kildare batting struggled against a disciplined Rush attack and were bundled out for just 94 with Cian Egerton taking 5-20 and Jarred Barnes 2-10 in a comprehensive win for Rush (2 from 2).

Civil Service v North County (Civil Service)

North County 197-9 off 50 overs (Niall McGovern 60, Abdul Sattar 29, Jono Andrews 28, Forqan Hassanzada 24; Naveed Khan 4-27)

Civil Service 156 All Out off 33.4 overs (Mubasher Siddique42, Binson Thambi 36*; Sean Sludds 4-37, Eddie Richardson 3-16, Abdul Ghaffar 2-35)

North County won by 7 runs on DLS.

North County posted a solid 197 off their allotted overs with Niall McGovern leading the way with 60 with good supporting contributions from Abdul Sattar, Jono Andrews and Forqan Hassanzada. Best of the bowling for Civil Service was Naveed Khan who took 4 wickets for just 27 runs.

As with almost all games, a weather delay resulted in a revised target for Civil Service of 163 off 34 overs. This game ultimately came down to the wire with North County prevailing by just 7 runs as the last pair for Civil Service put on 29 to almost see them home. 

A vital win for North County to get their campaign up and running after last week’s defeat to Rush.