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Review of Divisions 3 & 4, weekend 23rd -24th July

The highlight of the weekend was the Storm Cricket Trophy final on Sunday at Claremont Road between Clontarf 2 and Merrion 2.  Merrion won the toss and batted, lost Mike Tichband early on, but then Kirk Shimmons (26) and Alan Parkinson (46) started building a base.  Neil Brown and Parky added 99 for the third wicket, after which Brown went onto his second century in successive days, and got support from David Watkins (13) and Ross Watkins (18*) to get Merrion to 253-7 off their 50 overs.  Best bowling from Clontarf came from Andy Cullen with 3/37.

Mark Collier didn't last long, but Ronan O'Reilly and Richard Forrest were in no bother until Forrest was run out for 14.  O'Reilly battled on to 24, but thereafter only Brian McDermott (18) showed much resistance as Clontarf were bowled out for 122  in 33 overs, David Watkins taking 3/12, and making it a cup final double for Merrion.

In Division 3 on Saturday, Leinster 2 beat Pembroke, but in true Rathmines fashion did their best to lose the game after inserting the 'Broke on a pitch that did a bit.  Stuart McDonnell, Darren Nicol and Gary all got 20s at the top of the order, but Pembroke went from 48-0 to 100-6 before Hugo Mays put his ample frame about to score 55 and to get his side to 209 with help from Dehihne Oliver (21) and Andy Leonard (26).  Sunny Faizan's 4/16 was responsible for the Pembroke middle order failure.  Faizan then scored 57 out of 95-4, which became 142-6 before Jason Nagle (25*) and Asif Hussein (39*) got Leinster home with two overs to spare.  Darren Nicol took 2/26 off his 10 overs.

In deepest Co. Wicklow, Civil Service piled up 278-8 against Oakhill with 39 from Ullah Chatha, 65 from Keith Webster and 61 from Owen Butler.  Richard Hastie took 3/30 off 10, and Richard Bridge 3/35 off 7.  Butsy then reminded everybody that he did open the bowling for Ireland (until some English f***r no-balled and wided him off the side) by taking 5/17.  Hastie made 36* late on, but Oakhill were bowled out for 116 inside 30 overs.

In Division 4, Merrion 2 beat Phoenix 2 at Anglesea Road on Saturday by 7 wickets, but no scorecard has been posted as I write this on Thursday evening.  I'm told Neil Brown scored a ton.  The scorecard I do have is for North Kildare at home to Railway Union 2 on Saturday.  Neavyn (23), Walsh (31) and M Singh (25) did OK at 1, 2, 3, but that was it as the Kilcock side were all out for 155.  Patrick Collins took 4/14.  I am also at a loss to know why he's allowed to play in Division 4.  Like Greg Hay, you don't bring somebody half the way round the world to play second team cricket.  Ul Haq's unbeaten 72 saw the Shunters home by four wickets.

Leinster's win consolidates their lead in Division 3, but pushes Pembroke below the unwanted (by me, anyway) Dublin University.  Come on, you 'Broke!  Oakhill look doomed, but nothing else is clear.  In Division 4, Railway are as clear at the top as Malahide 3 are adrift at the foot.