Top Open run scorers - 2011 to 2012

The move towards having the scorecards for all OCC matches recorded has already been discussed extensively over the last two years. Many may be sick of even discussing it. There are quite possibly a few dozen more who are sick to death of the various articles analysing the exploits of the province's players over the last couple of years.

But with a bit of luck there are a few people somewhere who will be snuggled up in front of the fire over this festive period, and who will be desperately in needed of some statistical story telling.

For those who fall in the latter group, this article comes as a first Christmas gift, with a final installment to be delivered over the next few days. The rest of you will have to suffer in silence, and get your festive enjoyment in other ways!

Two season's worth of scorecards have meant that for the first time, career records for players at the lower grades can be compiled. It is too late for many, but for those starting out playing cricket, we will be able to find out exactly how their careers proceed.

For those in their prime, we can at least have a look at who is scoring the most runs, and can shine the light on batsmen who may not get as much praise across the twelve counties as those in the top divisions.

Five batsmen have scored at least 1000 runs over the last two years in the three main competitions - Division 1/2, Leinster Senior Cup and Alan Murray 20/20. The exploits of these players are well known, and need no further explanation. Step forward John Anderson (Merrion), Simmi Singh (YMCA/Old Belvedere), Shahid Iqbal (Rush), Tom Fisher (Railway Union) and Andre Botha (Terenure). 

In addition to these five are sixteen players who's exploits may be less well known, and who's run scoring abilities are heralded now for the first time (something of an exaggeration - representative honours abound, and there are two Irish internationals amongst the sixteen)

Pride of place goes to Alex Mathew of Dundrum. Only one player (see below) has batted more often than Mathew over the last two years, but he has taken full advantage, scoring 1455 at 34.64. More of his runs have been scored in Division 9 than any other (374), but he will be a mainstay of Dundrum's first season in Division 4 in 2013.

The aforementioned John Anderson of Merrion is in second place (Ireland international #1)- it should be noted that he has scored his runs at a higher average (48.67) than anyone else on this list.

Rashid Meraj made headlines this year as he scored 199 for Laois 1 against North Kildare. It has been one of many special knocks over the last couple of years - two hundreds and seven fifties, all except three of which came in 2012. In total he has 1298 runs at 44.76

The second of the Ireland internationals is at fourth place in the list - Barry Archer who has been playing for Balbriggan since 2011. Only one player has scored more than Archer's three hundreds in the last two years. Those innings have helped his 1188 at 47.52

Simmi Singh (Old Belvedere in 2011 and YMCA in 2012) comes fifth, before two Clontarf players take 6th and 7th. Bryan McDermott has been a mainstay of Clontarf 3 over the last few years, and has scored 930 runs for Clontarf 3 alone. 144 for the 2nds and 78 for the 4ths gives a total of  1152 at 33.88. Twenty two runs further back is the destructive talent of Vijay Gopal. 

Many a team has left the field dejected after a Gopal innings - his top score of 165* this season being one of three centuries in the last two years.  Shaihid Iqbal of Rush is 8th, 1128 at 43.38 before the first of the three Railway Union players. Abdullah Hafiz has been plying his trade for Railway 2nds, contributing 674 runs to their cause, and 1124 overall (at an average of 35.12)

Tom Fisher is next with 1118 at 41.41, before the least heralded of the Railway 3, Sean Tomlinson. One half of the famous Tomlinson brothers, Sean has yo-yo'd between Railway 3rds and 4ths, scoring 477 at 34 in Division 5, and 302 (at the slightly better average of 100.67) in Division 11. It all helps his 2011-12 total of  1094 at 40.52.

The other ten players to have passed a 1000 contain a similar mix of internationals, wizend old goats, and those in their prime.Twelfth is the player who played more OCC cricket than any other in the province over the last two years - Christopher Allwright of Merrion. Sixty matches have led to 60 innings and 1090 runs. 13th spot belongs to one of only two players of these twenty one to have scored a double century over the last two years - no real introduction is needed for Tariq Islam of Laois with 1079 runs at 44.96

Two Irish internationals come next on the list, defnitely both legends of the provincial game, and maybe further afield. Brian Gilmore of Malahide has 1071 at 44.62 and Andre Botha has 1051 runs for Terenure since the start of 2011. In the context of their respective careers though, this accolade will rate as close to the bottom as possible!

Six to go - two from Fingal, and four from south of the river. Sanjay Saharan has been slowly rising up the ranks in Merrion over the last two seasons. His runs have been split over Divisions 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 1 (which may be unique) and his best may be yet to come. 1044 runs at 24.28.

Anto Coates made the move from North County to  Ring Commons in 2012, and cruised past the 1000 run barrier thanks in no small part to 203 runs towards the end of this season. 279 runs in 2011 and 760 in 2012 for a total of 1039.

Asim Nazir is the first player from Leinster to be mentioned. A monumental 2011 (830 runs) coupled with a slightly quieter 2012 (208) runs combines for 1038.

Finally a trio of players who would quite probably be in a fantasy trio of players needed to keep the conversation going in the bar. John Andrews of North County has scored 1031 at 22.91, Alan Parkinson of Merrion (1027 at 27.76, and Kenny MacDonald of Terenure, exactly 1000 at 32.26. 

Plenty more will pass the 1000 run barrier in 2013, and a good few will get 2000. We will be hear to see who does what.
Before Christmas, we'll have the equivalent list for bowlers