SPRINT COATINGS DIVISION 1 ROUNDUP - 27/07/2023

The top division of Women's cricket continued in action last night with three vital ties down for decision.

In a busy time for cricket these matches took place against a backdrop of matches for the Women's National Team, for the Cricket Ireland Future Series and the Cricket Ireland U15 trip to Malvern.

YMCA were unable to field a team and gave a walkover to Merrion.

Phoenix vs Pembroke

Pembroke 210/7 in 20 overs (C Shillington 145*, A Black 3-29, N Saravanarajan 1-30, A Keenan 1-29)

Phoenix 149/4 in 20 overs (N Saravanarajan 38, C Terblanche 55*, M Nicholl 1-19, L Martin 1-31, V Shukla 1-36, G Beatty 1-16)

Pembroke won by 61 runs

Phoenix won the toss and decided to bowl first, but were soon up against it as Clare Shillington a spectacular century. Her 145* came off 75 balls with 13 fours and 6 sixes. Alison Black was the best of the bowlers with a credible 3-29 off 4 overs.

The Phoenix reply could have been merely to try and bat the overs but a solid 38 by skipper Nevedha Saravanarajan showed their intent. The young Pembroke bowling attack took regular wickets however and despite a partnership of 56 between Saravanarajan and Terblanche (55*) Phoenix never threatened the target. A solid win for Pembroke on the road.

The Hills vs Clontarf

The Hills 161/5 in 20 overs (T Dunne 92, E Butler 2-23, R Searle 2-37)

Clontarf 126/6 in 20 overs (R Searle 30, L Cullen 24, M Buttlerly 1-19, V Scollard 1-18)

The Hills won by 35 runs

An excellent effort by Tahlia Dunne was the bedrock of The Hills' innings, with her near century coming off 61 balls with 10 fours. She faced the majority of the innings and the next highest scorer was Extras with a generous 37.

The Clontarf reply got off to a positive start with a 56 run opening partnership between Searle (30) and Laura Cullen (24), but when both went quickly the batters struggled against a tight bowling attack. Clontarf never had enough momentum and finished 35 runs short.

Leinster vs Malahide

Malahide 105/6 in 20 overs (B Armstrong 25, M Kerrison 20, K Dillon 2-27, O Bagnall 2-21, I Merriman 1-18)

Leinster 94 all out in the 20th over (E Ridgeway 32, M Kerrison 4-18, B Deacon 3-19, E Tarbox 3-5)

Malahide won by 12 runs

Runs were hard to come by for both teams and Malahide would have wanted more than 105. It turned out that the 25 from Bella Armstrong would be a vital contribution.

In reply the Leinster Batters struggled with only Ridgeway making a contribution. Four wickets from Maria Kerrison were key though, backed up by 3 from each of Deacon and Tarbox and saw Leinster all out with one ball unused in the innings. A tense finish to a closely fought match.