A stunning innings of 178 not out from Jurie Snyman, including a century of sixes alone, powered Rush to 402/5 and an 84-run victory over Clontarf in Group B of the IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup.
Rush captain Neil Rock won the toss and opted to bat first. Opener Nathan McGuire (56) scoring a half-century that included 12 boundaries, and Stephen Doheny making 43 off 36 balls took the hosts to 124/3 when Rock and Snyman came together.
They proceeded to double that score in just 15.4 overs and ploughed on to a partnership of 205. Neil Rock’s 85 off 65 with three boundaries and seven maximums, incredibly, looked almost pedestrian as Snyman took advantage of the Kenure surroundings to flay the ball to all parts.
“That’s how I play when I’m playing at my best. With Rush being a small field, there’s little margin of error for the bowlers, if it’s in your area and you back yourself, there’s only one way to play,” said Snyman after the match.
“Luckily it came off for me today and it was just good to contribute,” he added modestly. “At the start I felt a little shaky and took about twenty balls to get going but once you’re in and seeing the ball nicely, you can score quickly.”
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Snyman brought up his century in 74 balls and took just 19 more to move to 150 as the accelerator was pressed firmly to the floor. All told there were 25 sixes in the Rush innings, and they posted 402/5 off their 50 overs, a mammoth target for Clontarf to chase down.
Conor Gallagher (15) and Bill Coghlan (11) needed to get Clontarf off to a flyer if they were to keep up with the required eight runs an over rate. Instead Jarred Barnes (5-2-7-0) and Allan Eastwood (6-1-24-1) ensured that after their first spells Clontarf were chasing shadows at 30/1 at the end of the opening powerplay. Rush, by contrast, had been 60/1.
“Midway through we stressed the fact that we needed to start well with the ball. When you have 402 on the board it’s easy to just lay back and win by ten or twenty. We knew though that if we started well with the ball it would make their task even harder,” said Snyman.
Eoghan Delany (128), in at three for Clontarf, batted superbly striking six boundaries and four maximums as he batted through until the final over. However, despite run a ball cameos from Andrew Poynter (42) and Niall Delany (32) and an enterprising 44 off 26 from Robert Forrest, Clontarf were never really in the chase.
On the first day of real summer sun this season, Clontarf compiled 318/8 off their allocation and yet they never threatened to chase the target down. Just six maximums, given the short straight boundaries at Kenure was never going to be enough on a day when 720 runs were scored.
Barnes and Eastwood were backed up brilliantly by Subby Ramnathpur who took 2-48 off his ten and Snyman wasn’t to be kept out of the headlines for long taking 1-44 and snaring two catches as well.
A crucial win for Rush who will most likely face Balbriggan for a place in the Premier League after the split, while for Clontarf it’s four defeats from four and some wounds to lick this evening.
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In the other Group B games on Sunday, Merrion maintained their 100% record with a 139-run victory over Pembroke. Half-centuries from John Anderson (79) and Michael Lewis (56) helping them to 272 all out before they bowled Pembroke out for 133. Niranjan Shankar doing the bulk of the damage with 3-32 off 7 overs. Here's the full scorecard from Sydney Parade.
Balbriggan had a comfortable 8-wicket win over Terenure. Josh Newport (3-19) and Clinton Hinchcliffe (3-20) helping restrict Terenure to 165 all out, before Hinchcliffe smashed an unbeaten 72 to guide his side home. Here's the full scorecard.
In Group A, The Hills moved to five wins from five, easing passed Dublin University by five wickets. Daya Singh took 4-41 as college made just 129 before Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin continued his fine form with an unbeaten 52 to bring The Hills home. Here's the full scorecard as The Hills extended their lead on top of the table.
Malahide are also unbeaten on top of group A (four from four) after beating Railway Union by 35 runs. Fintan McAllister top-scored with 47 as they posted 242/9. Anish Desai then took 4-48 off nine overs to give victory to the village. Here's the full scorecard.
Phoenix won the final match in the group by 101 runs over North County. Simi Singh (52), Adam Chester (49) and Poonish Mehta (49*) all contributed as they hit 255/9. Amish Sidhu with 3 for 36 off his full allocation was the pick of the bowlers as North County were bowled out for 154. Here's the full scorecard.
IBI Corporate Finance Leinster Senior League Cup Group B
Rush v Clontarf, Sunday May 12th, Kenure
Rush 402/5 (J Snyman 178*, N Rock 85, N McGuire 56)
Clontarf 318/8 (E Delany 128, R Forrest 44, A Poynter 42; S Ramnathpur 2-48, A Eastwood 2-61)