It was a weekend full of interest and drama, as well as some very good cricket. Cover Point readers will be familiar with the events of the two Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup semi finals, but for any troglodytes and extra-terrestrials (e.g. the contributors to the Cricket Ireland Forum) here is very brief summary.
Pembroke travelled to Donemana, were put in to bat, and slumped from 93-2 (Andrew Balbirnie 41; Graham McDonnell 31) to 154 all out, only Allan Eastwood (27) and Theo Lawson (19) providing much resistance. The McBrine twins were the principal destroyers, Junior taking 3/18 and James 1/17 off 10 overs, backed up by 3/28 from pro Azhar Shaffique.
Ever anxious to hit the bar, Donemana tried to win it in 10 overs, and were 60-2 off 6! But after Richard Kee was out for 36 the 'Broke bowlers got amongst the Co. Tyrone middle order to reduce them to 93-6 (Andrew Balbirnie 2/16). But there can be few better no. 8s in Irish cricket than James McBrine, who survived a first ball lbw shout and not a few verbals to dig in and then counter-attack with 55* to see Donemana home in the 32nd over.
In Rathmines, Leinster were also inserted, and after a bright start from Jason Molins (20) and Mark Jones (42) and a middle-order recovery from Anton Scholtz (34) and Craig Mallon (37) got to 212-7 thanks to a late flourish from George Dockrell (19) and Will Lennon (23*). On a belter of a pitch, the Limavady bowling was disciplined, Decker Curry showing his experience with 1/31 off his ten overs.
After the early departure of Decker for 17, Ian McGregor held the innings together, and a rain break at 25 overs reduced the target to 191 off 43. McGregor unluckily played on for 53, the McDaid brothers couldn't get going and got out, and when further rain ended the match, Limavady were 143-6 off 36 overs, eight short of the D/L par score. The hero for Leinster was injured pro Carlos Brathwaite, bowling off-cutters off three paces and returning 4/28.
In Section A of the Senior League, Railway Union raced to 191-3 at Milverton, Kenny Carroll hitting 88, Conor Mullen 38 and Trent Johnston 43, but then subsided to 238 all out in the 50th over, Emmett Branagan following up his Guildford against Leinster with another – 4/46. At 100-2, The Hills were odds on, but thereafter only Max Sorensen could stay with Jeremy Bray, and the opening bat was left on 108* as The Hills were 200 all out with five overs to go. Newcomer Bisala took 4/44, and the more familiar Johnston 3/28.
That victory put Railway on top and set back the Wilberries. On Sunday Clontarf put themselves into a very strong position against North County with a 50 over score of 247-8, runs coming from Adrian D'Arcy (30), Bill Coghlan (67), Rod Hokin (38), Andrew Poynter (40) and Eoghan Delany (43). County had reached 55-2 off 11 overs when worries about swine flu in their ranks caused the game to be abandoned. The table shows Clontarf back on top with their eight points for a no result, but I was under the impression that the game would be replayed.
There were two matches in Section B on Saturday. The encounter at Kenure put Rush out of promotion contention and Phoenix right back in it. Pro Andrew Downton removed the Russian top order with 4/7 off his 10 overs, and despite a fine 71* from Patrick Sheridan, Rush were all out for 178. Downton, with 38, then helped Matt Plunkett-Cole (54) to take Phoenix to 121-2, but both were victims of a Naz attack (2/18 off 10), and skipper Corie Dickeson (38*) saw the parkies home by 5 wickets.
In Claremont Road, Old Belvedere recovered from 42-3 and 87-5 (Yogesh 33) to reach a massive 293-7 off 50 overs, skipper Sameer Dutt rediscovering last season's form with 107, and Asgar Ali hitting 80. YMCA's reply was truncated by rain after 12 overs, and the loss of 16 overs left them a target of 219 off 34. The initial impetus from Reinhardt Strydom (26) and Alan Lewis (45) was maintained by Gus Dunlop (22) and Stu McCready (18), and a little wobble at 139-5 was corrected by Paul Beacroft (35) and Etesham Ahmed (41), the Young Men getting home off the first ball of the last over with three wickets in hand.
This Saturday sees important matches in both sections. In Section A, the flu boys of North County must travel to Merrion, where they should begin their recuperation with a win. Irish Senior Cup finalists Leinster travel to Clontarf, where they will get stuffed. Losing semi finalists Pembroke travel to Milverton, and stand a good chance of getting some points back on Leinster. But I don't think The Hills will be bad enough to lose.
In Section B they key match is at Claremont Road, where Phoenix are YMCA's visitors in an eleven o'clock start. Phoenix must win this match, but I don't think they will. If Malahide lose at CYM I shall be amazed.
All five matches in Leinster on Saturday have a start time of 11am.
On Sunday the Twenty20 finals of the Alan Murray Cup, sponsored by 4FM, will be held at Sydney Parade. The home club, Pembroke are the holders, but they won't be defending their title. The four semi-finalists are Railway Union, The Hills, Leinster and Phoenix. The first semi final, between Phoenix and The Hills is at 11 a.m. The second semi, Railway and Leinster starts at 2pm with the final at 5pm.
The blurb on the Cricket Ireland website tells us that “Twenty20 is the most exciting form of cricket, and with many of the biggest hitters in Leinster and indeed Irish cricket on show treat yourself”. I get very suspicious when anybody feels the need to tell me how exciting something is and how much I need to watch it. If it were that exciting, I'd know all about it, and wouldn't need to be told.
Like all forms of cricket, Twenty20 can be exciting; but it can also be deathly dull, particularly when it's played on a poor pitch. Were the finals anywhere but Sydney Parade (or Cabra), the pitch would probably be good. The rest of the facilities will be first class, so we can be bored out of our trees in great comfort. On a good pitch, Railway should win. On the 'Broke's graveyard, they will probably still win.
Cheers,
Stu.
