Following all the history and excitement of the past few days in Malahide, things got back to sort of normal with a Mason Alexander/LHW Financial Planning Premier League T20 refix between The Hills and North County. As always with a Fingal derby nothing is ever that normal.
County won the toss and opted to bat on a beautifully sunny evening. Niall McGovern and Jamie Grassi strode confidently to the middle. The Hills buzzing in the field ready for the fray.
McGovern went in the 2nd over caught by Naseer Shoukat off the bowling of Singh for 7. Grassi was bowled by Shoukat for 4. County were 20-2.
Malcolm Nofal and Eddie Richardson were then tasked with steadying the ship and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Nofal was steady at the start with Richardson scoring much the quicker. The pair had brought the score to 58 in the 9th over when Nofal was caught by Sean Terry off the bowling of Luke Clinton for 9. Richardson was joined by Jonno Andrews.
At the halfway point, North County were 63-3 with Eddie 24 not out. The Hills made use of their array of bowling talent and it worked when Tomas Rooney Murphy came on and had Eddie Richardson caught by van der Merwe for a well made 31. County now 80 for 4 in the 13th over. Andrew Sheridan followed four balls later lbw to Albert van der Merwe for 4. Safdar Ali joined Andrews and the pair put on 13 before Ali was caught by Max Sorenson off the bowling of van Der Merwe for 2.
Terry Richardson lasted just 3 balls bowled by Daya Singh for 0. Andrews looking for support at the other end 32 not out. Tomas Sheil joined him and the pair brought the score to 115 when Andrews was run out by Daya Singh for 42 from 30 balls, hitting 4 fours and 1 six. Adam Coughlan was then bowled first ball by Singh, nine down now for County. Sean Kingston last man in with 9 balls remaining. Sheil and Kingston scrambled hard and brought the final score to 132 for 9 from County's 20 overs. Tomas Sheil 12 not out and Sean Kingston 5 not out. The Hills bowlers all bowled well. Naseer Shoukat 1-15 from 4 overs, Daya Singh 3-28 from 4 overs, Albert van der Merwe 2-20 from 4 overs, Luke Clinton 1-20 from 3 overs, Sean Terry 0-23 from 3 overs. Tomas Rooney Murphy 1-18 from 2 overs. So 133 needed for victory for The Hills. Should be no problem, but this is a Fingal Derby.
Sean Terry and Mark Donegan opened the batting for The Hills. Eddie Richardson and Sean Kingston took the ball for North County. They openers batted steadily and and watchfully bringing the score to 25 from the first five overs. County bowled well but without luck.
Adam Coughlan and Andrew Sheridan next to try and break the opening partnership. The score had moved on to 35 when Mark Donegan was bowled by Adam Coughlan for a brisk 23 from 20 balls. Albert van der Merwe joining Sean Terry in the middle. The bowling however remained tight and at the half way stage The Hills had reached 50 for 1 with Terry 12 not out and van der Merwe 6 not out. The plus for the Hills only 1 wicket down.
County introduce Malcolm Nofal to their attack and he immediately has success. He bowls Albert van der Merwe for six and then has Max Sorenson stumped by Jamie Grassi for 0. Daya Singh joined opener Sean Terry who is 20 not out. The score 70-3 after 14 overs. Game on with 63 needed in 6 overs.
The score moved onto 79 when Sean Terry was bowled by Sean Kingston for 29. Tomas Rooney Murphy and Singh brought the score to 107 when Singh was bowled by Nofal who was bowling beautifully. Rooney Murphy went two balls later for 9, also bowled by the deadly accurate Nofal. Harry Archer went next ball for 0, caught by Coughlan again off Nofal, 5 wickets for Malcolm Nofal. The Hills now in deep trouble at 108 for 7 with only 1 over to go. Nine runs is all The Hills could manage off the last over with Andrew Kavanagh bowled by Eddie Richardson for 3 and Luke Clinton not out 1. Mohammed Ramazan did not bat. The Hills finishing 119 for 8.
North County had incredibly won by 13 runs in a hugely exciting encounter. Obviously the North County bowlers were exceptional. Malcolm Nofal 4 overs, 1 maiden, 5 for 16 took the honours. Eddie Richardson 1-34, Sean Kingston 1-20, Adam Coughlin 1-27 and Andrew Sheridan 0-20 did County proud. A brilliant Fingal derby for a large crowd at The Vineyard with North County defending 132 to beat The Hills by 13 runs.
The full scorecard can be seen at https://direct.cricketleinster.ie/results/view/-the-vineyard-2018-05-16-180000 whilst you will be able to view the match highlights first thing tomorrow morning, as the HBV Studios cameras were in The Vineyard to catch all the action