IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCH DAY 8 (JULY 27TH)

After last weekend’s three fixtures saw just one game played out to a result, the halfway point in the season sees the league covered in it’s entirety by just 82 points, however the unbeaten Pembroke sit top having won four games and had two no results. Merrion are the only side really hot on their heels, having had four wins, one loss and one no result.

This weekend’s fixtures see Pembroke at home to Leinster, whilst Merrion host Malahide. Balbriggan also make the trip to Clontarf, in a fixture pitting fifth against sixth in the league standings.

PEMBROKE VS LEINSTER

Pembroke’s first home tie since they took Leinster on in the Alan Murray Cup final sees them up against the same opposition, and having been comprehensively successful in the two fifty over games between the sides this season, ought to be confident of avenging the result that day. Their batting unit showed to still be in good shape in their last fixture when they faced off against Balbriggan, with Tim Tector and Nick Stapleton in the runs in a consummate run chase. That pair accompany Diarmaid Tucker and JJ Garth in the top four, whilst the depth in the side is shown by Jack Tector and Fiachra Tucker coming in at 5 and 6. With the ball, Stapleton has been excellent with the new ball this season, and will be supported by seam from Olly Riley and the hugely in-form Byron McDonough, whilst their double-spin attack is led by Paul Lawson, who’s 7 wicket haul in the reverse fixture is the best set of bowling figures in the Premier League so far this season, and JJ Garth who’s leg-breaks came to the fore in the T20 format and will be needed to fill the void left by Gavin Hoey’s Test squad selection.

Leinster meanwhile sit mid-table and really need to turn Pembroke over here to give themselves something to play for going into the last five games, their batting is likely to be led as usual by their all-rounders, with Bilal Azhar, Joey Carroll, Gareth Delany and Saqib Bahadur all likely to appear in the top six, with Monil Patel and Tristen de Beer making up the specialist batters in the line-up. Their lower-order runs are likely to come from Tom Johnson and Mark Tonge, with both capable of finding the rope regularly. With the ball, Jai Moondra and Luke Callanan have bowled with excellent pace and movement throughout the last few weeks, never more so than when guiding their side to victory in the Alan Murray Cup Final, and they are sure to be crucial at the start of the innings once again. Azhar and Carroll offer two excellent change options, whilst Tonge as the fifth seamer rounds off a fine pace attack, that’s before getting to Johnson’s left-arm spin that leads a trio which also features Delany and Bahadur.

Paul Lawson had Leinster’s batting line-up all at sea when the sides last faced off in the league, and has taken 10 wickets at an average of 9.4 against them this season. Leinster’s middle order, particularly Monil Patel, will need to come up with a different plan of attack if they are to succeed in getting the better of Pembroke’s office this weekend.

KEY BATTLE: Paul Lawson vs Monil Patel

MERRION VS MALAHIDE

Merrion return to full strength for a league fixture since the last time these two sides faced off in The Village, although that hasn’t hindered them hugely in recent weeks, as they have been on the right end of two brilliant run chases at home in each of their last two fixtures. Adam Rosslee’s return means their batting order is lengthened once again, with Stephen Doheny in flying form at the top of the order, and John Anderson at number three proving an ideal foil for those around him still, it means that Sam Harbinson and Pete Francis are again freed up to numbers 5 & 6 to make the most of their natural game. With the ball, Francis’ bowling progress sees him becoming more of an asset with each passing week, and he will likely take the new ball alongside Mikey O’Reilly, whilst the other seam options in the side are Max Sorensen and Melvin Devaraj, as well as the skipper Harbinson. Tom Stanton’s left-arm offies are the frontline spin option in the side.

Malahide meanwhile are stuck in something of a muddle, they got off the mark with a win against Clontarf a couple of weeks ago, however they go into this weekend’s fixture without both Ali and Mike Frost, meaning they’re missing arguably their classiest operators with both bat and ball. Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin is also not in the side, leaving an extremely aggressive batting line-up to be anchored by Adam Doyle, whilst the likes of Younas Ahmadzai, Matt Ford & Jeremy Martins go about their business in the middle order. Aaron Doyle and Andy Sheridan are the two who will likely appear at 6 and 7 and they will be charged with accelerating the scoring rate later in the innings. With the ball, Frost’s absence means Mohit Sane becomes the frontline spinner with his left-arm orthodox, whilst the seamers are led by the skipper James Newland and Kelvin Donnelly, with support coming in the shape of Martins and Sheridan who have both been consistent throughout the season.

Adam Rosslee has been in excellent form this season and looked a cut above when making a fine 78 a couple of weeks ago against Phoenix, he also made 90 in the return of this fixture, and looks set to be a key man for Merrion once again, Malahide are likely to look to Jeremy Martins to dismiss the classy left-hander and give them a chance of getting in amongst the home side.

KEY BATTLE: Adam Rosslee vs Jeremy Martins

CLONTARF VS BALBRIGGAN

A battle that should throw up a decent game here between two sides who simply haven’t been able to string a run of performances together as yet this season. Clontarf are as near to full strength as they could have expected to be for this fixture, the batting is led by Eoghan Delany and David Vincent at the top of the order, whilst their middle order includes Mitchell Thompson, overseas gloveman Rahul Dalal and their trio of seam-bowling all-rounders in John McNally, David Delany and Fionn Hand. The ability of three of their strongest bowling options to bat in the top 7 means that ‘Tarf’s bowling attack is balanced ideally for any conditions, with the three already mentioned supported by teenage quick Reuben Wilson, whilst they also have a four pronged spin attack, led by left-armer Cillian McDonnell, as he’s supported by a triumvirate of right-arm offies in Yash Bala, Paul Ryan and opener Vincent.

Balbriggan meanwhile are having a luckless season in terms of injuries and availability, and are captained once again by their number three Chris de Freitas in the absence of Greg Ford, Abdul Samad deputises behind the stumps with Ciaran Gray unavailable for the next couple of weeks, and there’s a return for Duane Harper who adds some experience to the side. De Freitas and Cameron Rowe will lead the way with the bat, with the away side also looking for contributions from Ghanim Dara and all-rounders Dylan Lues and Sebastian de Oliveira. The return of Andy Darroch adds some bite to the bowling attack, whilst his clean striking lower down will help lessen the impact of players moving up the order to cover for the loss of Ford. With the ball, Sam Willemse and Kashif Ali will provide support to the seam of de Oliveira and Darroch, whilst the frontline spinner in the side is the in-form player of the season for the ‘Brig, Dylan Lues, and he will shoulder plenty of responsibility with the ball if they are to keep Clontarf’s batting unit to a manageable effort.

Rahul Dalal has looked a classy operator against spin in his limited efforts so far this season, and his battle with Dylan Lues could offer him the opportunity to finally stamp his authority on the game.

KEY BATTLE: Rahul Dalal vs Dylan Lues

IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH DAY 8 – JULY 27^TH

All 12 Noon Starts

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke vs Leinster

At Anglesea Road, Merrion vs Malahide

At Castle Avenue, Clontarf vs Balbriggan