A fantastic catch by Venshika Shukla at long-on off the final ball of the match handed YMCA a 2-run victory over Leinster in a nail-biting finish on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening in Rathmines.
Gaby Lewis’ visitors had earlier made 118/6 off their 20 overs with Kerry Tomlinson (27), Robyn Lewis (24) and Sarah Forbes (20) all making significant contributions.
“That was a fantastic way to win the game!” said Gaby Lewis after the match. “We didn’t play a perfect match but that was a great catch to finish it and it’s brilliant to get another win on the board.”
Amy Kenealy led the Leinster bowling superbly, taking 2-16 off her four overs, while Sophie MacMahon, called into the Ireland squad to face the West Indies this month, took 1 for 18 and Maria Kerrison 1 for 23 off their allocation.
Rebecca Stokell (27) and Ellen Ridgeway (20) got the Leinster chase off to the perfect start, putting on 59 in 8.3 overs for the first wicket.
Robyn Lewis brought YMCA right back into the contest, however. Bowling through the middle overs, Lewis took the wicket of Ridgeway and Leinster captain Laura Delany (6) in taking 2 for 18 in four overs.
Leinster still looked to be edging though when Sophie MacMahon (21) and Maria Kerrison (12) put on 29 for the 4th wicket taking the home side within ten runs of victory.
Roisin Staunton (2-18) removed MacMahon and with ten runs off ten balls the equation, Staunton bowled out the 19th over before YMCA captain Gaby Lewis took the responsibility of bowling the final over on herself.
Seven runs were required for victory, but two singles were followed by the run out of Kerrison. Two more singles meant Amy Kenealy needed 3 runs for victory when facing the final delivery.
Kenealy hit the ball brilliantly and it flew towards long-on. If it avoided the fielder and made it to the boundary, the home side would emerge victorious, instead Shukla took an excellent running catch sparking wild celebrations in the YMCA ranks.
https://twitter.com/cricketleinster/status/1125852200096489474
In the night’s other game at Anglesea Road, Merrion made 148/3 off their 20 overs. They then bowled Clontarf out for 88 in reply and Merrion had a comfortable 60-run victory.
Academy Plus Division 1 20-over
Leinster v YMCA, Observatory Lane, Tuesday May 7th
YMCA 118/6 20 Overs (K Tomlinson 27, R Lewis 24, S Forbes 20; A Kenealy 2-16)
Leinster 116/6 20 Overs (R Stokell 27, S MacMahon 21; R Lewis 2-18, R Staunton 2-18)
YMCA won by 2 runs