Leinster beat Merrion as Competitive Cricket Returns

Laura Delany’s classy and powerful unbeaten 61 proved the difference as Leinster defeated Merrion on the first night of matches in the Sprint Coatings Women’s Division 1.

Having been set 133 for victory thanks to a partnership of 120 between Rachel Delaney (54*) and Rebecca Stokell (48), Delany dominated the chase, striking the winning runs with just five balls to spare.

League cricket has been a long-time coming in 2020 but unfortunately for Merrion captain Leah Paul, after winning the toss and opting to bat, her innings lasted just four balls as Sophie MacMahon trapped her LBW.

Stokell and Delaney took up the cause and batted almost 18 overs together as they manoeuvred the field and picked the gaps. It looked likely they would both make their half-centuries before Maria Kerrison bowled Stokell to halt their push for late runs.

How vital that may have proved in the end as Laura Delany just got her side home as wickets fell at the other end. Both Ridgeway (14) and Rolfe (15) departed after getting starts, and when MacMahon (18) was the first of two wickets in six balls, Leinster were in danger of falling just short at 98/4 and four overs remaining.

Instead, Delany took advantage of being dropped in the 30s to dominate the strike in those late stages. Consecutive boundaries followed by a single to finish the 18^th over, were followed by two more boundaries to start the 19^th to break the back of the chase.

Delany showed both her power and precision in those shots and was elated to see her side home to an opening day victory.

This was an exciting and entertaining game of cricket played between two talented squads, however that at times felt like a bonus. To have competitive cricket taking place again in a safe and controlled environment felt fantastic on warm summer’s evening.

Elsewhere on Thursday night, Malahide had a 10-wicket over Clontarf at Castle Avenue. Clontarf were restricted to 80/9 off their allocation with Anna Kirk top scoring with 30*.  Malahide chased down their target in 7.2 overs, openers Amy Hunter 41* and Caoimhe McCann 35* taking the Villagers home.

Pembroke meanwhile defeated YMCA by 8-wickets. Louise Little top-scored with 34, while Orla Prendergast (28) and Shauna Kavanagh (20*) also chipped in, as they chased down YMCA’s total of 102/7 in 17 overs.

Sprint Coatings Division 1 20-over

Merrion v Leinster, Anglesea Road, Thursday July 16^th  

Merrion 132/2 14 Overs (R Delaney 54*, R Stokell 48; S MacMahon 1-17, M Kerrison 1-22)

Leinster 133/4 19.1 Overs (L Delany 61*, S MacMahon 18; N McNulty 1-12, C Raack 1-24, R Stokell 1-16)

Leinster won by 6 wickets