Siuin Woods the Hero as YMCA 2s Triumph in Title Decider

Siuin Woods’ half-century proved the difference as YMCA won the Sprint Coatings Division 2 title in a last-ball thriller in the Phoenix Park on Saturday.

dHavin been put into bat, Woods (50) and Zoe Hoffman (34) put on 81 for the first wicket in 14 overs. They played really clever shots, finding the gaps well, and running hard.

Both Woods and Hoffman rotated the strike very well as Phoenix captain Ali Keenan searched for the breakthrough.

It was Sophie McDonough who made the crucial intervention with a smart throw from the outfield and Hoffman was run out.

Phoenix, with many players fresh from winning the Colts final on Friday night, kept fighting throughout the YMCA innings and Lucie McNaught (1-6) was rewarded for bowling two good overs at the death with the wicket of Roisin Staunton.

Woods didn’t quite carry her bat as Keenan (1-28) trapped her LBW with the final ball of the innings but her half-century pushed the YMCA total to 114/3 at half-time.

After Hannah McGuckin (10) edged behind, Lucy McDonough (39) and Ella Pasley (34) put on a 65-run partnership to ensure Phoenix were always in the game.

Just like their YMCA counterparts, they played some lovely shots, finding the gaps and running well, with shots of real power thrown in every now and then too.

However, when Pasley smashed a full toss to Staunton at mid-off, Phoenix were 86/2 and needed 29 off 17 deliveries.

Georgina Dempsey (19) wasn’t accepting the game was up though. She pulled hard through mid-wicket and hit a second boundary with a straight drive. Phoenix still needed 10 off two balls to force the tie.

Dempsey deposited Sarah Brownlee (2-30) over deep square leg with the shot of the day with the penultimate delivery. Unfortunately for Phoenix, Dempsey could only muster two off the final ball and YMCA scraped home by two runs to set off jubilant celebrations.

This was a very enjoyable game and a sure sign of plenty of talent coming through in the women’s game.

Sprint Coatings Division 2 20-over Play-Off Final

Phoenix 1 v YMCA 2, Phoenix Park, Saturday September 5^th     

YMCA 2 114/3 20 Overs (S Woods 50, Z Hoffman 34; A Keenan 1-28)

Phoenix 1 112/3 20 Overs (L McDonough 39, E Pasley 34; S Brownlee 2-30)

YMCA 2 won by 2 runs