YMCA Women Secure 23-Run Victory Over Clontarf

YMCA bounced back from defeat to Pembroke last time out with a 23-run victory over Clontarf at Claremont Road on Thursday evening, despite a wonderful half-century and excellent bowling from player of the match Isobel Joyce.

YM captain Gaby Lewis (31) won the toss and didn’t hesitate to have a bat with opening partner Kerrie Tomlinson (35). The pair put on 63 for the opening wicket in just seven overs looking comfortable, but it was Joyce who made the decisive breakthrough in bowling Lewis.

Joyce took 1-13 in her four overs to drag the visitors back into the match in the middle overs but Jenny Grey (25) and Sarah Forbes (17) added some late innings impetus for YMCA.

A total of 40 extras, including six penalty runs for a slow over rate, also helped pushed the YMCA innings up to a strong total of 150/4 at half-time.

“We’re delighted to get our first win on the board,” said Lewis after the match. “We put on a great score of 150 batting first.

“We batted in partnerships throughout the innings, ran well to put their fielders under pressure and put away any bad balls we got too.”

Una Raymond-Hoey and Lara Maritz opened for Clontarf, but Gaby Lewis took a very good return catch off a full-toss to dismiss Raymond-Hoey for 5 in just the second over, while Kate McEvoy bowled beautifully for 2-12 off her four overs straight up at the other end.

At 40/4 in the 9^th over the chase looked doomed for Clontarf with YMCA well on top. However, that didn’t count on Isobel Joyce.

The best players in the world in all sports always look like they have plenty of time and Joyce was able to place the ball in the gaps all round the wicket while punishing the bad deliveries with power hitting, as she compiled a fantastic 58 off 40 balls with eight boundaries and a massive six over deep mid-wicket.

https://twitter.com/cricketleinster/status/1124039067321106439

Joyce was able to take Clontarf close but when she fell YMCA could relax again now victory was almost assured. Clontarf could only score five runs off the last two overs and the 23-run victory for the home side was secured.

“Fair play to Clontarf getting up to 127, Isobel Joyce batted superbly coming in and putting pressure on us from ball one,” acknowledged Lewis. “I was really happy with our opening bowler Kate McEvoy though. The plan was to bowl straight, and she executed that brilliantly.

“Hopefully we can continue on like this for the rest of the season,” concluded Lewis.

In the night’s other match, Leinster had a four-run victory over Malahide at Observatory Lane. Hannah Ridgeway (31) and Rebecca Stokell (20) led the way with the bat for the home side as they posted 105/5 off their allocation.

Anna Kerrison (17*) led the Malahide chase with the bat, while 42 extras kept them in the game to the very end. Malahide could only score 101/6 off their 20 overs however and so Leinster ran out 4-run victors.

Academy Plus Division 1 20-over

YMCA v Clontarf, Claremont Road, Thursday May 2^nd

YMCA 150/4 20 Overs (K Tomlinson 35, G Lewis 31; A Brennan 1-11, I Joyce 1-13)

Clontarf 127/7 20 Overs (I Joyce 58; K McEvoy 2-12, V Shukla 1-17)

Clontarf won by 23 runs