The Hills 1 vs Leinster 1 - Ten times winners of the Leinster Senior Cup (the last being in 1998), Leinster travel to The Hills, five times winners (most recently in 2017). It is the ninth time that Leinster and The Hills have met in the Leinster Senior Cup, with those matches being shared 4-4. But they haven't played since 2016 when Leinster won a tight rain affected match by 5 runs. Joey Carroll (56) and George Dockrell (70 - his highest ever score in the Leinster Senior Cup) added 107 for the third wicket to set Leinster on their way to 221/7 from a reduced 50 overs, Hamid Shah taking 3-39 for The Hills. The Hiils originally needed 253 runs from their 50 overs. But there was to be another rain break, followed by the match terminating after 23.3 overs and The Hills were 5 runs short despite Albert van der Merwe's 45 ball 47*.
Railway Union 1 vs Clontarf 1 - Clontarf, 14 times times winners of the Leinster Senior Cup (and the defending champions after winning in 2018) travel to Park Avenue to take on Railway Union, who have only won twice - in 1967 and 2010. Clontarf lead the head to head of Cup matches in Park Avenue 5-3, but they have not met in Sandymount since 21 May 2005. That day was a good one for Clontarf, as they scored 292/5 before bowling out Railway Union for 101. Jeremy Bray and Dom Rigby added 178 for the second wicket as Clontarf wracked up the runs. In reply it was all about Trent Johnston who took 5-38 as Railway fell away. Both side's matches were rained off yesterday, so no confidence (of baggage) to carry over for the big one today!
Rush 4 vs Mullingar 3 - No preview as waiting for result of Wicklow County 2 vs Finglas 3 yesterday
YMCA 2 vs Leinster 2 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of YMCA 2 vs Clontarf 2 (July 16)
Knockharley 1 vs Phoenix 2 - No preview as Waiting for Cork Harlequins 1 vs YMCA 3 (July 1) and Merrion 3 vs Cork Harlequins 1 (July 15)
Malahide 2 vs North County 2 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of Malahide 2 vs Pembroke 2 (July 16) and Malahide 2 vs Clontarf 2 (July 16)
Terenure 4 vs Castleknock 3 - No preview as waiting for results of Laois 3 vs Naas 2 (July 20) and Adamstown 6 vs Tyrrelstown 5 and Railway Union 5 vs Civil Service 5 yesterday.
Carlow 2 vs Athlone 2 - A meeting between the top 2 in Division 15 as leaders Carlow host Athlone. They both have games in had over the other sides in the top 5, and sit in a great position at the league's half way point. The four previous matches between the teams have been shared, but the only match played in Carlow saw Athlone win by 2 runs in July 2022. Amrit Misra took the first five wickets to fall, ending up with 5-25, his best bowling in 27 matches for Athlone. But Jaspal Singh, batting at number 8, scored 76* as Carlow got from 137/8 to 238/9. Only one player batting at number 8 has scored more for Carlow - Abdullah Davodzi with 107 against Swords 1 in August 2021. Venkatesan Venugopa was the only player to hit 50 for Athlone (with 59), but most got starts. Muhammad Irfan took 4-50 as Athlone just fell shor by the two runs.
Merrion 2 vs Clontarf 2 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of YMCA 2 vs Clontarf 2 (July 16) and Malahide 2 vs Clontarf 2 (July 16)
Balbriggan 4 vs Lucan 3 - Balbriggan are going well in Division 17, sitting in third place, although with a very big gap to leaders DLR County 2 (95 points ahead) and second place Adamstown 7 (47 points ahead). The rest of Lucan's season is all about avoiding relegation. They are 7th in the nine team division, and are only seven points above Naas 2 in 8th who have two games in hand. A win is needed. Balbriggan are 4-7 for the season, Amkela Nontso being the top run scorer with 371 at 53 and 13 year old Ryan Keenan the leading wicket taker with 23 wickets at 13.65. He is level with Stephen Crawley's 2022 record for most wickets in a Balbriggan 4 season. Lucan 3 are 3-8 for the year; have a top run scorer of Annu Shukla with 2777 at 25.18; and leading wicket takers Anuj Kumar Sharma and Vishnu Raju with 11 each.
Civil Service 2 vs Laois 1 - Two teams towards the bottom mid-table, with Laois being the happier as they have three games in hand on Civil Service. Laois could lift themselves into the top two with three wins, but as always with teams with games in hand, they have to be won. It is tight at the bottom with four teams within six points of each other, fighting to stay out of the second relegation spot. The sides met twice in 2022 in the league, both winning their home game. The match in Civil Service saw Vivekanandan Srinivasan taking 4-33 (his best bowling in 26 matches for Civil Service 2) as Laois never really got going, Jawad Amin top scoring with 33 in the total of 138/10. Civil Service were solid despite losing wickets and veteran Sachin Mistry scored 40* as Service won with nearly 25 overs to spare. Mistry is joint 2nd (with 172) on the list of most matches for Civil Service since 2011, behind Mubasher Siddique's 184.
Phoenix 4 vs Clondalkin 1 - Clondalkin 1 beat the weather and The Hills 3 yesterday to set up a great last day in Group A of the Middle Cup. This is Phoenix's first game of the day. If Clondalkin win, they are through. If this game is rained off (or a tie), Phoenix are out, and North County will have to beat Phoenix and will then be level with Clondalkin - to be separated by Net Run Rate. Clondalkin have won all three games that the two sides have played.
Leinster 3 vs Adamstown 2 - No preview as Waiting for result of Merrion 3 vs Leinster 3 yesterday
North Kildare 2 vs Sandyford 1 - On paper this is 3rd traveling to 4th place in Division 5 with both having an eye on promotion. But in reality, leaders Malahide 3 and Adamstown 1 are a good distance ahead, with Sandyford clinging on to the fact they have a couple of games in hand. North Kildare are only 6 points ahead of Rush 2 in 7th and so need to be looking in the rear view mirror instead of out of the windscreen. Their last league meeting was last September and there wasn't too much for North Kildare to be happy about. Manpreet Monty Singh and Sayed Mehdi Shah put on 98 for the 4th wicket but that was it - they were bowled out for 139 with the wickets shared around. One partnership dominated the Sandyford innings as well as Abhishek Pandey (39) and Atif Khan (58*) added 85 for the second wicket, Sandyford cruising home by 5 wickets with nearly 25 overs left.
North Kildare 6 vs Adamstown 7 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of North Kildare 6 vs Clondalkin 3 (June 11)
Pembroke 4 vs Wicklow County 1 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of Wicklow County 1 vs Clontarf 5 (July 16)
Swords 2 vs Sandyford 2 - The first of two matches today for Swords (they play North County 4 later) but unfortunately for them, qualification has now gone and they have two dead matches to look forward to. But for Sandyford it is a different ball game - they must win, but then hope Swords do them a favour later, by beating North County. Sandyford have history in their favour, winning their last three matches against Swords. Swords' last win was in August 2019, when Sandyford scored 168 all out from 39 overs, Atif Khan scoring 52 and Jimson Joseph Njerely took 3-19 for Swords. Swords may have won the game, but it wasn't easy and everything was down to Bilson Kuruvilla. He scored 68 with no other batter getting past 20, with Swords winning by 2 wickets with 6 balls left.
Malahide 5 vs Slieve Bloom 1 - Slieve Bloom's rained off match last week was enough to lift them off the bottom of Division 14. A win today would send them into the middle of the table. Malahide already look quite comfortable in 4th place, with a win today only lifting them to 3rd. Malahide are 5-7 for the season with only Bhanu Gokarla getting past 200 runs (207 at 23) indicating a lack of runs for the team. Omkar Tawade has a very decent 22 wickets at 12.68, which has already broken Matt Massey's 2011 record of most wickets in a season for Malahide 5. Slieve Bloom are now 5-5 for 2023 with Faizan Hakim top scoring with 224 at 28, and Sajin Soman leading the wicket taking with 13 wickets at 16.85.
Halverstown 2 vs Sandyford 4 - The bottom of Division 19 is quite congested, with ten points separating the bottom three. Halverstown are 7th in the nine team group, and would love a win to get clear of this bottom threesome. Sandyford sit proudly on top of the league, although they only have a three point lead over Dundalk 2 in second. The only time these two have played was in the reverse fixture on June 4th. Sandyford made an excellent 238/5 with fifties for Srinath Sridharan (51) and Piyush Rumao (57*). Halvestown probably felt they had a chance at 90-4 from 26.3 overs but fell in a heap as they looked to increase the run rate. Losing the last six wickets for 14 runs. Ahsan Syed top scored with 33 from number 11, a rare feat. Puvanesh Senapathy took 4-14, his second best bowling return in 11 matches for Sandyford.
Pembroke 6 vs Clontarf 7 - All to play for in Division 20. Adamstown 8 lead the way but Pembroke have four games in hand on them, and Clontarf a couple. Pembroke are actually unbeaten for the season, but have only played three matches. Raif Duncan leads the way as leading run scorer with his hundred against Adamstown 106 runs in his one innings. Conor Crowley has taken 7 wickets at 1.71! Clontarf 7 are 9-2 for the season, although no one has yet got to 100 runs or 6 wickets for the season
North County 6 vs Clondalkin 3 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of North Kildare 6 vs Clondalkin 3 (June 11)
Adamstown 4 vs Terenure 3 - For Terenure, the top two teams in Division 12 must look a long way off. Lucan are 64 points ahead and Sandyford 68 points ahead, which Terenure will do well to overturn in their remaining six matches. But at least they are in the top four - Adamstown sit bottom and are 45 points from 6th place. Terenure's 1 wicket victory in the reverse fixture on June 5th was a classic. Usman Shahid scored 82 (his 7th 50 for Adamstown and he added an 8th on June 10) and Balamurugan Jayabal 66 (his highest score for Adamstown) as Adamstown made a distinctly useful 246/5 from 40 overs. At 90/5, Terenure were out of it, but 80 from Anand Haritwal (his highest score for Terenure and the highest score by a number 7 for Terenure 3) gave Terenure a slim chance. But Haritwal was out with the score on 219/9 and Terenure were doomed…..until Abhishek Smalty and Benjamin Dillon added 28 for the last wicket to seal a famous victory.
Leinster 4 vs Malahide 4 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of Wicklow County 1 vs Clontarf 5 (July 16)
Mullingar 1 vs Kilkenny 1 - With the DLR County/Lucan match being rained off yesterday, Group B of the Middle cup is a straight shoot out. The winner will advance to the semi finals. If the match is shared (tie or a rained off match) then Mullingar will go through on the head to head. The only previous match between the teams was the reverse fixture on May 28. Robert Delaney top scored for Mullingar with 36 as they scored a useful 138/6. Kilkenny's star batter, Zeeshan Mumtaz fell for only two, and the others couldn't quite get Kilkenny over the line. Both openers, Siphokuhle Mqalo and Shoaib Tariq scored 31 but Obaidullah Tarakai's 3-26 saw Mullingar finishing on top by 13 runs.
Dundalk 2 vs Carlow 3 - If Carlow win this match, they will qualify as Group winners with Athlone in second. If Dundalk win, they will finish in second place, with Athlone winning the group. A tie or rained off match will send Carlow through in second place. The league fixture played on May 21 saw a big Dundalk 2 win. Avijot Singh hit 79 (his second fifty and highest scored for Dundalk) as Dundalk made 243/8, their fourth highest innings score ever. Jithin John was the main destroyer for Dundalk as Carlow were bowled out for 108, Ramesh Adabala top scoring with 31 at number nine.
Gorey 1 vs Lucan 2 - A dead match for both sides in Group D of the Whelan Cup. Lucan 2 have already qualified for the semis leading to this match being one to play for the pure enjoyment. In the reverse fixture on May 28, Honey Gugale scored his fifth Cricket Leinster 50, his 65 taking Lucan to an impressive 165/5. Shalitha Wijethilaka (3-22) and Gurpal Singh (3-9) then dominated the Gorey innings as only Abhishek Pandey's 56 did anything in getting Gorey's total to 124 all out.
Greystones 4 vs Terenure 5 - Our favourite group in the Open Competitions Cups this year, Group B of the Minor 2 Cup. There are still five matches remaining, but this match is the only one that has been organised so far, so no one has any idea what has to be done for qualification. Adamstown 8 have finished their matches with 16 points, and Terenure can still pass them - but only if they play their matches. Greystones are 3-6 for the year with Gordon Shaw leading their run scoring with 185 at 37, and their bowling being led by Peter Baxter with 9 at 14.33 Terenure are 5-3 with top run scorer Gethin Kelleher with 160 at 40 and top wicket taker also Kelleher with 8 wickets at 14.5. The 14 year old is having a great season!
The Hills 4 vs Phoenix 6 - Kilkenny 2 won Group A of the Minor Cup yesterday when their match against Sandyford 3 was rained off. The Hills will join them if they avoid defeat - win, tie or no result. Phoenix 6 have nothing to play for but their pride. The Division 17 match between these two was tied in 2021, with both teams scoring 257-8. The Hills' total was built around 162 from Shehzad Hussain, the second highest score for The Hills since 2011 - Ryan Tobin's 169* against Laois 2 for The Hills 3 in June 2018 being the highest. But The Hills couldn't kick on, and only made 357/8 with Prasanth RA taking 3-42 for Phoenix. No one scored more than Lineesh Ramachandran's 39 for Phoenix, but nearly everyone contributed. Quentin Gaddy took 3-46 and Avishek Singh 3-29, with the scores ending up exactly level.
Athlone 1 vs Merrion 4 - No preview as waiting for scorecards of Merrion 4 vs Tyrrelstown 1 (July 8) and Merrion 4 vs Bagenalstown 1 (July 9)
Naas 1 vs Tyrrelstown 3 - A dead match in Group D of the Whelan Cup as Lucan 2 have already wrapped up the semi final spot. The teams have played each other one, with Tyrrelstown winning a tight one by 5 runs on June 18. Consistence runs throughout the order got Tyrrelstown to a decent 146/7 with Rohit Khairnar top scoring with 37. Naas' innings was similar as three players got past 20 - if one could have gone on to 30, they probably would have won. Mohneesh Jindal took three wickets in four overs but conceded 45 runs. Dhanapal Viswanathan was better with 2-4 from four, and that spell won it for Tyrrelstown.
Longford 1 vs Malahide 3 - A simple winner takes all in Group D of the YMCA Salver. If Longford avoid defeat they are through to the semi finals. If Malahide win, they will be level with Longford and will need to be separated on NRR. The last YM Salver match in Newtownforbes was in July 2021 with Malahide getting home by 6 wickets. After a solid start, Longford would have been happy getting to 33/1 before a rapid collapse took them to 44/5, mainly due to Ravi Kumar's 3-9. There was a mini-recovery with 17 from Muhammad Sheraz Tariq before collapse number two took Longford from 70/5 to 84 all out. When Malahide were 35/3 the game may have been in doubt, but 29* from Kumar took them home by 6 wickets with 47 balls to spare.
Rush 2 vs Pembroke 2 - No preview as waiting for scorecard of Malahide 2 vs Pembroke 2 (July 16)
Merrion 6 vs Clontarf 6 - No preview as waiting for result of Leinster 5 vs Ongar 1 from yesterday.
Leinster 3 vs The Hills 2 - No preview as waiting for result of Merrion 3 vs Leinster 3 from yesterday.
Railway Union 5 vs Naas 2 - No preview as waiting for result of Railway Union 5 vs Civil Service 5 yesterday
Phoenix 4 vs North County 3 - Clondalkin 1 beat the weather and The Hills 3 yesterday to set up a great last day in Group A of the Middle Cup. This is Phoenix's second game of the day. If Clondalkin beat Phoenix in the first game, this match is dead. If the earlier game was rained off (or a tie), North County must win to then be separated from Clondalkin on NRR. Phoenix need to win both games. If they beat Clondalkin earlier, a tie or rained off match against North County will send it to NRR between Phoenix, Clondalkin and North County. No time in this preview for further analysis!
Swords 2 vs North County 4 - As mentioned above Swords are already out. North County have their fate in their own hands - a win will put them in the semi finals of the Whelan Cup. A loss may be ok, depending on Sandyford 2 losing to Swords 2 earlier in the day. North County have won the last three games between the teams, with Swords' last win being in August 2020 in a repeat of this match. Jimson Joseph Njerely scored 68 at the top of the order, his highest score in a 56 match career for Swords, helping Swords to an impressive 181/6. Salman Sha then took 3/24 for Swords to knock out the North County middle order, and they never threatened. Stephen Mooney top scored with 38 as County ended up on 109/7.
North Kildare 6 vs Ongar 2 - No preview as waiting on scorecard from North Kildare 6 vs Clondalkin 3 (June 11)
Terenure 2 vs Castleknock 1 - No preview as waiting on scorecard from Greystones 1 vs Castleknock 1 (July 15)