Review of Divisions 3 & 4, weekend 20th - 21st August
While Leinster firsts were closing in on promotion to Division 1 with two wins over the weekend, their seconds took a huge step towards replacing them in Division 2 with their win over Clontarf 2 at Rathmines on Sunday. At first it looked as if was going to be all over by tea as Ross Geraghty (3/39) and Robbie Kenealy (2/29) shot out the 'Tarf top five. Old soldiers Paul Ryan (61) and Ian Synnott (32) stopped the rot, and with 23 from Killian Lynskey took Clontarf to 193 all out in 36.5 overs. Gareth Delany (3/52) and Niks Nagar (2/37) captured the last five wickets. Although Joe Byrne was dismissed early on, Peter Johnston (32) and Hugh McDonnell (83) provided the base for a five wicket victory after 44 overs.
Also on Sunday in Division 3, Balbriggan moved within 9% of second-placed Dublin University with a comprehensive win over Civil Service in the Park. The Fingal team batted first, lost Barry Archer for a duck, but got to a decent 50 over total of 198-8 with a sedate 24 from Russell, a quickfire 41 from Anwar, 31 from Adrian Harper and 33* from Albert Harper, plus some late hitting from Guildea and Qasim. (I do hope the scorecard I have has got its Harpers right – they're very sensitive souls in Balbriggan!) Dwayne Harper and Anwar then shot through the Service batsmen, only number one Keith Webster and number eleven Khan reaching double figures, good old Ernie Extras top-scoring with 24 out of 59 all out in 17.1 overs. Harper took 5/29 and Anwar 5/26.
In Division 4 on Saturday, North Kildare travelled to Claremont Road, were put in to bat by YMCA 2 and ran up 289-7 in their 50 overs. Neavyn led the way with 102, backed up by opening partner Ian Walshe (36) and a 38 ball 74 from G Singh. In reply, Simon Wilson-Moore (24) and Sean Mcauley (29) prospered for a while, but YM slipped to 96-5 and although Robinson scored 44 and S Ali 36, they never threatened the North Kildare total, being all out for 220 in the 47th over. Vorster took 4/34. The win is a huge boost in the Kilcock side's fight against relegation, and a dent in YMCA's promotion drive.
The silver lining to YM's cloud was that league leaders Railway Union 2 also suffered a reverse, on Sunday, at Anglesea Road. Railway batted first, and only opener Hafiz, with 54, and tail-end Charlie, Ernie Extras, with 32, made any impact as they were all out for 136 in 33.3 overs, Andy O'Brien taking 5/19. Tim Townend whipped out Merrion's top three, whereupon skipper Cillian O'Donoghue dug in for 28*, Rory Allwright thrashed 56, and keeper Ross Watkins finished things off with 19*, Merrion winning by six wickets in the 27th over.
In the Park, also on Sunday, Phoenix 2 made very heavy weather of beating already relegated Malahide 3. The Villagers made 173 all out in 50 overs, 60 of the first 91 runs coming from the wonderfully-named Jackson Santosh, plus 27* from M Smith and 34 from the ever-reliable Sammy Sundries. Clarke took 3/19. Masud Ahmed, with 69, and Ryan Gallagher (30) got Phoenix to 110-1, but they then subsided to 139-7. They lost no more wickets as Naik (26*) and Adam Chester (8*) got them home in the 33rd over. For Malahide, Kamal took 4/40. The win keeps Phoenix 2 in with a chance of promotion.