Querl and Carroll Half-Centuries see Railway through to Final

Half-Centuries from Skipper Glenn Querl and former Irish international Kenny Carroll, saw Railway beat off Pembroke by 19 runs in the Park Avenue derby which today doubled up as the LHW Financial Planning Senior League Cup Semi-Final.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Railway lost Kevin O’Brien for just 4 in the first over to Paul Lawson, caught at point by Scott Ruttle. While Carroll started positively striking boundaries in the second over bowled by Ryan Hopkins.

Hashir Sultan, batting at 3, then became Hopkins’ first victim, caught by Paul Lawson for 9, before Prabhanshu Kamal squirted a catch to Jack Balbirnie at backward point off the same bowler. This left Railway 32/3 after the 6 over PowerPlay, and brought Glenn Querl to the crease to join Carroll.

Both of this pair rotated the strike well, punishing any wayward deliveries which came their way while Pembroke rotated their bowlers in an effort to keep some control on the run rate. Kenny Carroll then launched Bill Whaley over the leg side twice in a row to bring up his half century, before being given out LBW from the bowling of Fiachra Tucker in the 17^th over.

Danny Barclay followed for a first ball duck, and when Philippe le Roux followed 4 balls later, Querl’s wicket became extremely important in the scheme of the game. Unfortunately from Pembroke’s point of view, it never came.

The Railway skipper launched consecutive maximums in the final over to bring himself onto a total of 55 from 39 balls, before being dismissed caught at long on by Fiachra Tucker off Hopkins off the penultimate ball of the innings. Leaving Railway on 137/7, which looked to be a decent total.

Gavin Hoey and Ryan Hopkins opened the batting for Pembroke. After Hoey had struck Perry back over his head for 4, Hopkins was bowled by the same bowler in the 3^rd over, with the score on just 9. This brought Theo Lawson to the crease and began the most fruitful partnership of the Pembroke innings.

Hoey dominated, but when he was dismissed for 30 in the 9^th over, bringing Lorcan Tucker to the crease, Railway started to turn the screw with a very tight spell of bowling by Prabhanshu Kamal (4 overs 0/12) putting strain on the required rate. This pressure led to Tucker hitting a catch high to long-on, where Kamal took a steepler off the bowling of Mishra.

Theo Lawson was all the while accumulating runs, being particularly proficient on the sweep shot, regardless of the bowler’s pace. A partnership of 16 with Fiachra Tucker ended with the latter being run out by a sharp piece of work by Glenn Querl behind the stumps was followed by one of 14 with JJ Garth who was bowled by Alex Stiles for 6. This left Pembroke 94/5 in the 16^th over, and requiring over 10 an over to win.

Jack Balbirnie and Paul Lawson were dismissed in consecutive legal deliveries by Digamber Mishra, although there was a wide in between. Leaving Theo Lawson with a lot of work to do and quickly running out of partners.

When Scott Ruttle was run out for 5 by some smart work by Mishra off his own bowling, the writing was on the wall for the Sydney Parade men, but while Lawson was batting they could retain hope.

Pembroke needed 20 from the final over, to be bowled by Hashir Sultan, and with the prize wicket of Lawson from the second ball, immediately followed by bowling number 11 Patrick Morris first ball, Railway were the winners by 19 runs, and advance to face YMCA in the final next Saturday, in Sydney Parade.