SPRINT COATINGS SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS PREVIEW – JULY 13TH

This evening sees a quick turnaround from last week’s first round fixtures into the semi-final stages of Cricket Leinster’s Sprint Coatings Senior Cup, with two excellent ties set to be fought out among the remaining four sides in the competition.

PEMBROKE VS CLONTARF

Kicking off with the featured game for the evening, which comes from Sydney Parade where Pembroke welcome Clontarf for the second time in six days for what ought to be a fantastic game, last week’s league encounter went right to the final ball as the visiting side managed to haul in Pembroke’s target of 172 with just two wickets to spare.

The hero for Clontarf last week was Hannah Pasley who managed to get nine of the ten runs needed from the final over to win the game for her side, however the hard work was done at the top of the innings by overseas player Bhavi Devchand who produced a terrific innings of 86 from just 45 balls. That knock put Tarf well on top as far as run-rate was concerned and a repeat dose of clean striking would be a major boost to them in this evening’s game. Christina Coulter-Reilly and Aoife Brennan both shared important partnerships with Devchand, rotating the strike regularly and that sort of consistent scoring will be crucial, even more so if their star player doesn’t get off to a similar flying start this week. With the ball consistency is very much the order of the day for the away side, Coulter-Reilly and Devchand will both certainly bowl in support of skipper Emma Butler and Freya Sargent who will likely share the new ball. Other options include Anna Kirk and Alice Walsh who have both bowled well at various points this season.

Pembroke are yet to confirm their side for this evening, however they are definitely without the services of Orla Prendergast who is undergoing workload management on her return from her recent injuries. The opening pair in recent games has been Mary Waldron and Clare Shillington and they have both been in good form, each striking half-centuries in last week’s fixture. With the team yet to be confirmed it remains to be seen who else is in the top order to support that pair, however a return for Lou Lou Little would be a massive boost to the home side. With the ball, Prendergast’s absence leaves a hole in the side, however Louise McCarthy’s form with the new ball has been good, with Anna Beale, Mhairi Nicoll and Lainey Martin all likely to bowl medium pace, again the inclusion of Lou Lou Little would be a welcome boost to the home side if she is in the side.

Without Prendergast, Pembroke’s bowling will have their work cut out to restrict Bhavi Devchand after her brilliant innings last week, it was Anna Beale who eventually dismissed her on that occasion and the home side will be looking to her to repeat the trick in knocking over Tarf’s star player in this battle for a final spot.

KEY BATTLE: Anna Beale vs Bhavi Devchand

MERRION VS YMCA

At Claremont Road, YMCA play host to a Merrion side who are in flying form after their pair of victories last week, the latter of which against Malahide in the league served up an exhibition in power-hitting from their premier batter Rebecca Stokell. Whilst Stokell’s innings last week was dominant in every sense of the word, Merrion are by absolutely no means a one trick pony, with the bat Leah Paul, skipper Celeste Raack, Rachel Delaney and Cecelia Joyce have all played important hands at one stage or another this season, Joyce in particular played a vital hand at this stage of the competition last season in an outstanding run chase against Leinster CC who were outdone by Merrion’s depth of talent on that occasion. With the ball, Niamh MacNulty has been vital opening up this season, whilst Julianne Morrissey provides a consistent foil at the other end, spinners Raack and Delaney are generally consistent throughout the middle overs and will be vital in restricting the YMCA batters in that period. As runners-up and winners of last season’s two cup competitions, the away side will of course be hoping to live up to their tag of being specialists in the knockout form, however the consistency of their side this season in the league is a confidence booster that will no doubt send them bouncing into this game.

Gaby Lewis leads a YMCA side who have thrived in the wake of her amazing form so far this season, however last Tuesday in the first round proved they could more than cope without her with a convincing victory over Phoenix. Lewis’ form however will be vital to the side and whilst Georgina Dempsey and Sophie Strickland have also began to find form, more support from Sarah Forbes, Jennifer Gray and Siúin Woods will be vital in ensuring the YMCA are able to match the performance levels which Merrion have been reaching consistently so far this season. With the ball, Dempsey will likely open up alongside Kate McEvoy, and that pair will have a vital job in ensuring the game remains tight through the opening spell, especially against Merrion’s left-hand/right-hand opening partnership. If they can do that they will ensure there’s pressure built upon their visitors batting line-up to increase the scoring rate, and allow their change bowlers to come into the game more and more.

Whilst Gaby Lewis is the obvious star in the YMCA line-up, its arguable that given the way Rebecca Stokell struck the ball last Thursday she is the key wicket in the entire game, she will have her work cut out in defying the opening spell of Georgina Dempsey, however if she does so it will set the game up to be an intriguing battle.

KEY BATTLE: Georgina Dempsey vs Rebecca Stokell