A successful start to the season saw both the Open and Women’s 1st XIs score victories in the first round of their respective leagues. Getting off to a good start is important any season but particular so this year with both teams in transition and expecting more from their younger players.
After the worst possible start, three wickets down before reaching double figures and John Anderson unavailable, the game on Saturday in Malahide got off to the worst possible start. But a fighting performance saw important partnerships between Seb Dijkstra [38] and Jamie Forbes [64] and then between Forbes and captain Sean Stanton [41] saw the innings past 150 for the loss of five wickets. Important runs at the end from Mikey O’Reilly [35] pushed Merrion past 200.
A total of 203/10 was probably shy of a par score but a spirited all round bowling performance kept Merrion in the hunt for honours throughout. Despite a couple of wickets for O’Reilly [2/27], Malahide were in a strong position with 100 on the board for the loss of three wickets but three middle order wickets by Oisin Bhoja [3/28], all bowled, changed the course of the match. It was still for from finished until an exceptional catch by Swapnil Modgill accounted for Jeremy Martins on 51, just as he looked like he might take the game away from the visitors. A couple of wickets at the end, including that of a well set Greg Ford, by Andrew Doheny finished off the innings.
An excellent start to the season and an important win.
Not to be outdone the Merrion Women 1st XI had an excellent and very competitive game against The Hills at Anglesea Road. The Hills won the toss and got off to a quick start. A smart run out to a direct hit by Aisling Lawlor broke the opening partnership but Malahide passed the 100 mark in the 12th over for the loss of only two wickets. But when Merrion turned to spin they wrested back control of the game. Two wickets each for Julieanne Morrissey [2/23] and Lawlor [2/23] were the high points, but perhaps the key wicket was Irish international Jane Maguir who made 46 off 36 balls before being bowled by Leah Paul. The innings closed at 138/7 in the 20 overs, less than might have been expected at the half way mark.
Merrion in reply lost Aoife Brennan early but thereafter gradually picked up the pace of the innings. An 86 run partnership between Annabel Squires [46] and Lawlor put Merrion back into the driving seat. A rapid undefeated 31 from Paul in 11 balls ensured that the Malahide total was passed with overs to spare. The final result, Merrion win by seven wickets.
Merrion [Open] have a double header next weekend, a home tie against Civil Service on Saturday and Pembroke away on Monday. The next outing for the women is another home game, this time v Clontarf on the 14th May.
Annabel Squires top scores for Merrion with 46