In the 60 Over game, winning the toss can have a significant bearing on the final outcome. So it proved with the semi-finals of the LHW Leinster Senior Cup where the sides wining the toss posted high totals that put immense pressure on the teams batting second.
At Anglesea Road a fast start by Merrion [four Kade Beasley boundaries in the first over] settled early morning nerves and on an easy paced wicket and fast outfield, batting 60 overs inevitably meant a large total. So it proved with Beasley making the early runs with a fluent 59. The mainstay of the innings, however, was another excellent century by captain John Anderson who batted through to the 54th over. With each wicket producing a stand, a total over 300 looked likely at one stage but, despite some strong hitting by Matt Petrie at the end, Clontarf managed to restrict Merrion in the closing overs.
With the pressure on for quick runs, Clontarf lost early wickets and despite a stand of 70 between Joe Morrissey and Rod Hokin, the departure of the former to a run out ended the match as a contest.
Merrion v Clontarf
Merrion 294-8 after 60 overs (J Anderson 101, K Beasley 59, M Petrie 23*, D Joyce 20 - S Islam, 2/26, R Hokin, 2/40]
Clontarf 169 all out (R Hokin 66, J Morrissey 23 - M Petrie 3/19, J Anderson 3/24, D Joyce 2/30]
Merrion beat Clontarf by 125 runs
Rush v North County
North County 323-7 off 60 overs (T Shiel 34, C Armstrong 32, G Hay 13, A Coughlan 19, R Lawrence 60, J Reeves 67, D Nolan 34, E Richardson 26*)
Rush 140 all out (E Conway 24, Butterly 27, Wides 28!)
North County beat Rush by 183 runs