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Divisions 3 & 4: review of the weekend 13th - 14th August

Last weekend there were two matches in Division 3 for which I have information.  After recently pushing league-leaders Leinster 2, Oakhill finally managed a win.  On Sunday they entertained Malahide 2, won the toss and batted.  The Wizard, Richard Hastie, opened the batting and scored 22, but the body of the innings came from a third wicket partnership between Fitzsimons and Angus Hancock.  After Gus was out for 56, wickets fell quickly, but Fitzsimons was still there, and saw the innings to a close at 179-8, he on 41* and his partner on Ghani on 19*.  For Malahide, Kirwan took 4/21.  Richard Bridge knocked over openers Brian Gilmore and Neil Boyne, there was brief resistance from Sirash Kiran (33) and Damian Ryan before the Wiz (3/27) and his apprentices bowled Malahide out for 108.  By the way, the scorecard says that John Andrews was one of the umpires.  John was at the Inch all day doing the NEAR FM Alan Murray Cup matches.  There is only one John Andrews, I hope!

The other Division 3 match was also on Sunday, in Sydney Parade, where Balbriggan were the visitors.  They batted first, lost Russell early on, and then Gavin Morgan first ball.  So disgusted was the England batsman's brother that he packed his bags and left the ground for good.  I used to feel that way about Sydney Parade, but I changed my mind when I had to leave early to go to a bash in Castletown House when it was still a private residence.  I opened the batting and couldn't get out.  I took ridiculous singles and survived, slogged away and couldn't find a fielder.  Finally, I got a straight ball, shouldered arms and disappeared to Celbridge with 43 of the easiest runs I've ever scored!

I digress.  Roger Kear (35) and Adrian Harper (59), together with Ernie Extras (31), got Balbriggan to 175 in 44 overs.  Danny Barclay took 4/29, and it's baffling why he was fourth change when everybody knows Fingal players can't play spinners, particularly one as decent as Danny.  Stuart McDonnell very generously allowed Balbriggan a sub fielder, and there was no cause for alarm when he and Barclay opened the batting.  Barclay and Jack Balbirnie made twenties before Kear got among them with the ball.  Although O'Farrell made 35, Pembroke were all out 13 runs short, one of the final catches being taken by the substitute fielder!

I know about three matches in Division 4.  On Saturday, Mullingar travelled to Kilcock, won the toss, batted first and got to 261 all out in the 48th over thanks mainly to 108 from opening bat Ejaz, with 38 from O'Neill and 26 from Irfan Haider, not to mention 52 from Sammy Sundries.  North Kildare were 137-1 (Walshe 28), but after Neavyn was bowled for 65, Singh was caught for 43 (that number again!), only Tom Satchwell, with 37, showed sufficient resistance as they were bowled out for 245, sixteen runs short.  Fegan took 4/60.

On Sunday, YMCA 2 went up to the Park and, asked to bat first, could only score 145 in 41.5 overs.  Shammy Ahmed top-scored with 32, while for Phoenix Chris Cavanagh returned 10-6-10-2 and Ryan Gallagher 10-2-26-3.  Phoenix made heavy weather of the win, losing six wickets in the process, Gallagher making 50.  I know Ryan is very short of runs for the firsts, but he's way too good for Division 4.

Also on Sunday, the Wheeltappers and Shunters second string had an away day in Portlaoise RFC.  They must have enjoyed racking up 255-5 on Laois's (very good) mat, Hafiz scoring 77, Andy O'Neill 32, Ghavre 58* and Imran Aslam 30*.  But Laois breezed home off the first ball of the 43rd over, with 24 from Ben Hur, 63 from Meraj, 28 from Louis Hofmeyr and 72 from M Auret.  Uninterestingly, none of the ten wickets fell to a catch: five bowled; three lbw; and two run out.

I would like to comment on the league standings, but I can't.  On Tuesday I contacted Eircom, saying my broadband connection was suddenly crap, and would they please send somebody out.  He came this morning.  After he had spent 45 minutes tinkering, it was OK, not brilliant, but serviceable.  Within 15 minutes of his departure it was crap again.  Oh!  Here we go.  Only if Clontarf win all their remaining matches will Dublin University not be promoted.  I can't cheer for 'Tarf, can I?  Oakhill are down.  Civil Service need a couple of wins not to join them.  In Division 4, Railway Union 2 and YMCA 2 are favourites to go up, while either Laois or North Kildare will go down with Malahide 3.