WINS FOR LEINSTER, MERRION & PEMBROKE - WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP (AUGUST 15TH)

There were three excellent games fought out in Division One this evening, as the battle in the bottom half of the table intensified, with Leinster's win over Phoenix, coupled with Merrion's victory over Malahide squeezing the sides in fifth, sixth and seventh positions closer together than they have been all season. Pembroke also continued their steam-roller league campaign with victory over Clontarf.

The featured action this evening came from Observatory Lane, where Phoenix won the toss, and elected to bat first on what looked to be an ideal batting wicket. Ali Black got the away side off to a good start with 32, dominating an opening stand of 40 with Nevedha Saravanarajan. Black stayed at the crease until the 13th over, with the score on 75 before she fell.

Zara Craig then took centre stage, as she guided the side from 75 to 136, dominating stands with each of Lucy & Sophie McDonough, and Darcey Dalwood, eventually being bowled for 47 from the second last delivery of the innings, with the final wicket of Elizabeth Walsh off the final ball of the innings seeing the visiting side finish on 136/6. Aisling O'Kelly the pick of the bowlers for Leinster, taking 2/17, whilst Clare Webber also took 2/19.

Leinster's chase got off to a flying start, as Webber and Sophie MacMahon shot the score beyond 50 in the seventh over of the innings, with MacMahon dominating the opening stand of 96. She passed her own personal half-century in the 10th over of the innings from just 35 balls, before being dismissed for a well made 60 from 43 deliveries.

It was left to Webber to dominate the remainder of the chase, as she and Jenny Sparrow (8*) added the final 41 runs needed for victory in just 25 further deliveries, with the Australian passing her half-century and finishing on a run-a-ball 51, which included 5 boundaries in securing a 9-wicket win with almost four overs to spare. A win which sees Leinster leapfrog their opponents in the league with just two games to go.

Elsewhere, in Castle Avenue, Clontarf batted first and made 123/4 from their 20 overs, Robyn Searle the top score with an unbeaten 55, sharing an unbroken 5th wicket stand of 57 with Lucy Barry who made 25. Izzy McLean the pick of the bowlers for Pembroke taking 2/22, whilst there was also an excellent spell from Lou Lou Little who picked up 1/12. Pembroke's chase took just 16 overs, as Little dominated stands of 63 with Isobel Jennings (19) and 61 with Zoe Bell (16*) in a comprehensive 9-wicket victory for the champions.

Finally in Malahide, Merrion batted first and thanks to an opening stand of 78 between Niamh MacNulty (29) and Celeste Raack were well on top from the outset. Merrion skipper Raack top scored with a rapid 51 from just 44 balls, whilst Annabel Squires' unbeaten 48 from just 36 featured 7 boundaries and guided the side to a total of 164/3 in their 20 overs. In response, Christelle van der Schyff was dominant, making 80 from just 62 balls including 8 boundaries and three maximums, however fine spells from Julianne Morrissey and Isobel Joyce helped to keep the run-rate down, as Malahide could muster just 132/4 in their response, meaning a 32 run victory for Merrion which sees them back into the fight for second position in the table again.