Both of Merrion’s premier sides got off to perfect starts to the league competitions over the weekend. On Saturday the Womens 1st XI had an excellent 10 wicket win over The Hills in the first round of the Pilkington Plate. Bowling first [after winning the toss], Merrion took a couple of early wickets but it was the introduction of Isabel Light into the attack that turned the match. In a five over spell she tore the heart out of The Hills’ batting with figures of five wickets for six runs. This is Isabel’s first ever five wicket haul at this level. The Hills were bowled out for 71.
When it came their turn to bat, Ratchel Delaney [49*] and Celeste Raack [21*] quickly knocked off the runs required.
The [Open] 1st XI had an equally comprehensive win in the first round of the Buakit Premier League against Leinster. Batting first Merrion got off to a very good start and at one stage were 140/1 with over 20 overs remaining. Runs came from Jack Carty [86] and John Anderson [44], but not for the first time the fall of Anderson’s wicket led to a collapse and the team struggled to 231 before being bowled out in the 50th over.
But Merrion’s bowling and fielding did not let them down and early wickets ensured that Leinster never really got into the game. Pressure was maintained throughout with five bowlers getting into the wickets. The pick of the bowlers was Amish Sidhu who took 3/17 in his 10 overs.
With full bonus points from both games it could not have been a better start to the second half of the season.