A poor series of weekend results with all teams losing. The inability to break the final partnership saw both the 1st XI and the 4th XI lose by one wicket. The 5th were well beaten by Tyrrelstown 2s by 150 runs and the 6th XI lost to Ongar by five wickets. The batting weakness through the club was evident with only one half century to report from four matches.
Merrion 1st XI [133 ao] lost to Railway Union [136/9] by one wicket.
The 1st XI lost a tense Leinster Senior Cup game against Railway Union at Anglesea Road on Saturday. Batting first Merrion got off to a good start and were well ahead of the clock before the first wicket fell at 38. Around the halfway stage Railway had pulled back the scoring rate but Merrion were still going well at 119/3. A wicket either side of the tea break brought about a collapse that saw seven wickets fall for 14 runs. The Railway spinners took eight wickets in all. Four Merrion batsmen made starts but only Swapnil Modgill [44] made a telling contribution.
That probably should have been that but Merrion fought hard in the field and with the eighth Railway wicket falling at 108 and the ninth at 116 there was a chance of an unexpected victory. But Railway fought hard and eked out a narrow win. The Merrion bowlers put in a good stint with Muhammed Sinan [3/26], Sam Harbinson [3/31] and Tom Stanton [2/23] among the wickets.
The game saw Oisin Bhoja make his Senior debut with 2* and 8 overs 1/30.
Merrion 4th XI [186/9] lost to Phoenix 3rd XI [189/9] by one wicket.
A half century by Harish Sivaraman [62] provided the backbone for a Merrion total of 186/9 batting first in the Park. In all six players got into double figures but only one made it past 50. When it came to their time in the field, Merrion pressed Phoenix hard but runs from the Phoenix tail saw tham home by one wicket in the 44thover. Best figures for Merrion from Sam Joyce with 3/51.
Merrion 5th XI [107 ao] lost to [Tyrrelstown 2nd XI [269/9] by 152 runs.
Not much to say about this very one sided game. Bob Stanton top scored with 34 but no other player made it to 20. The bowling [8 bowlers tried] was put to the sword.
Merrion 6th XI [112/7] lost to Ongar [114/5] by five wickets
No details.