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Divisions 3 & 4: Review of weekend 14th-15th May

To the great relief of all those interested in cricket, Leinster 2 and Pembroke 2 both won on Sunday to stay well ahead of Dublin University in Division 3.  To those excited by snobbery and neocolonialism this will come as bad news.  (But they probably won't have noticed because they're too busy in fawning admiration of and grovelling obeisance to Her Britannic Majesty!)  As a lifelong Gooner, I can only say, “Come on, you Reds.”

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke 2 racked up a formidable score based on a second wicket partnership between Robin Russell (39) and Danny Barclay (52), then a fourth wicket partnership between Darren Nicol (82*) and R O'Loughlin (43).  The 50 over total of 261-5 could have been much bigger if Owen Butler (2/26 off 10), M Khan (1/35 off 10) and Mubasser Siddique (1/42 off 9) hadn't bowled so well.

Service were without Ullah Chatha because of an injury while fielding and, missing a few regulars,  it was always going to be a difficult chase.  When skipper Darren Webster and main men Safeen and Siddique went early, it was all over: Service 94 all out  inside 23 overs, Walia claiming 3/22 and Barclay 4/10.

Up at Castle Avenue, Leinster eventually triumphed in a see-saw match.  Robert Forrest and Richie Reid got 'Tarf to 84-1, which Asif Hussain reduced to 124-6 with his 4/29.  Niall Delany's 32 guided  Clontarf to 181 off 39.2 overs, when Anilkumar's 3/18 finished things off in the 40th over.  Joe Byrne (33) and Zac Curtis (41) gave Leinster a great start, but a medial wobble was arrested by Jason Nagle (29), Niks Nagar (31) and Robbie Kenealy (20* off 11) to see Leinster home by three wickets in the 48th over.

The third match in Division 3 on Sunday was in Balbriggan, where the home team were in a bit of bother when Malahide stood at 96-2.  Then Brian Gilmore was out for 58, two more quick wickets fell, Clifford Costello (3/19) dismissed Sirash Kiran for 39 and followed up with two more, and it was 127-8.  Eight, ten, jack added 30 more runs, but the total of 157 in 44.5 overs wasn't as competitive as it should have been.

Opener Barry Archer blazed away, with Gavin Morgan (22) taking it to 77-1.  Barch was third out for 95 out of 134, then Glenda Kirwan took three wickets to leave Balbriggan on 140-6.  Dwayne Harper and Anwar made sure that the remaining 28 runs were gathered after only 27 overs.  The win placed them a couple of percentage points behind Trinity.

The were three matches in Division 4, all on Sunday, and each pitting a Dublin club against an out-of-town outfit.  North Kildare travelled to Anglesea Road, and opener Ian Walshe enjoyed himself against his former club (mind you, is there a club Walshie hasn't played for?).  His third wicket partnership of 88 with skipper Satchwell (29) put his side in command, but 133-2 slumped to 161-6.  A 51 run partnership with Ali (18) steadied the ship, but he was left one short of his ton when the number 11 was run out in the 47th over.

Merrion 2 never threatened 236.  Mike Tichband (21) and Jeff Short (26) passed twenty as M Singh (4/31) and N Pyne (3/41) worked their way through the order, and the Dodder-siders were all out for 134 in 36 overs.

Laois had a day out in the park, but I doubt whether they enjoyed being stuffed by Phoenix 2.  Inserted, they slithered to 48-7, Chris Cavanagh taking 3/15 off his ten and Tom Anders 2/14 off six.  Some resistance from Rixon-Fuller (19*), Yasin (20) and Khan (14) got them to 109 all out in 35 overs.  41 from Savage and 25 from Anders almost got Phoenix home, the win coming for the loss of three wickets in the 26th over.

At Claremont Road the visitors, Mullingar, opted to bat first against YMCA 2.  Opener Ejaz was another to carry his bat and to get into the nineties, but only number nine, I Haider, made double figures.  Mullingar were all out for 177 in 46.3 overs, Ejaz 92*, Yacub Ali taking 3/26, Wazza Armstrong 3/39 and Jonny Harte 2/21.

After the early loss of Quirke, Chris Minch (30) and S Ali (27) put on 60.  Travis Partridge (27), David Streek (34) and Jonny Harte (29*) completed the chase, YM winning by four wickets in the 45th over.