MACMAHON DAY OUT HELPS LEINSTER SEE OFF THE HILLS - 1.7

Monday evening’s action was by no means shorn of individual brilliance, as we saw unbeaten scores in the nineties from LouLou Little and Gaby Lewis for Pembroke and YMCA respectively, as well as a hat-trick in a five-wicket-haul for Georgina Dempsey for Phoenix.

Anyone who thought that only one game being on tonight meant we wouldn’t see such brilliance would be sorely mistaken, as in Skerries, Leinster’s star of the season Sophie MacMahon provided an excellent all-round performance which helped the champions see off their opponents by 7 wickets.

The Hills batted first, and thanks in the main to Jane Maguire’s unbeaten 57, scored 127/6 from their 20 overs, her main support came from Miranda Andrews’ 22, while a late 16* from Amy Benson helped them take 40 from the last 5 overs to set what looked a competitive total.

With the ball for Leinster, there were two wickets apiece for Jenny Sparrow and Katie Dillon, whilst MacMahon bowled her 4 overs for just 13 runs and taking the key wicket of Tess Maritz, she also held onto three catches to cross off two thirds of the all-round performance bingo card.

With bat in hand, Leinster lost Jenny Sparrow early as she fell to Katie Boylan in the second over of the chase, this meant MacMahon joined opener Rebecca Rolfe at the crease and the pair set about the task of chasing the runs, as they ran up a partnership of 53 in just 37 balls, before Rolfe fell caught by Aisling Byrne off the bowling of Lara McBride for 23.

This brought Ellen Ridgeway to the crease, and in spite of her scoring just 9, she became the second player to add a 50 partnership with MacMahon, this one taking just 33 balls as Leinster’s number 3 went through the gears. Ridgeway fell with just 10 needed to win, this brought Joanna Loughran in at number 5 and she remained not out for the rest of the chase, making 7* and seeing MacMahon finish up on an unbeaten 73 from just 42 deliveries, including 11 boundaries.

Jane Maguire was the bowler to escape punishment, as her 1/23 from 4 overs was the pick of The Hills efforts, whilst there was also a wicket apiece for Katie Boylan and Lara McBride, but ultimately, Leinster were too strong for the Skerries side.

SPRINT COATINGS DIVISION ONE

1.7

At Milverton

The Hills – 127/6, 20 overs (J Maguire 57*, M Andrews 22; K Dillon 2/20, J Sparrow 2/30)
lost to
Leinster – 128/3, 15 overs (S MacMahon 73*, R Rolfe 23; J Maguire 1/23)
by 7 wickets