Excellent fighting performances by the 1st XI saw Merrion record two victories over the weekend to get their season properly started. These wins were on top of an another by the Womens 1st XI in the league against Pembroke on the Thursday.
The common factor in the two weekend games were undefeated half centuries by Sam Harbinson as Merrion chased down tricky totals after the loss of early wickets.
On Saturday Merrion played Railway Union in the Premier. In the first round match against Balbriggan Merrion were unable to defend a total of 270 [in a game very similar to that of the previous year]. Railway too had lost their opening game so there was extra pressure to get that all important first win.
Railway won the toss and batted. Early wickets fell and at one stage the visitors were 129/5 but a sixth wicket partnership of 64 brought the score to 193 with plenty of overs remaining. At this point Hugh Kennedy [3/48] returned to the attack and in a dramatic 35th over took three wickets in four balls [could have had a hat-trick]. Not to be outdone, Mag Sorensen [3/32] wrapped up the inning the next over taking the two final wickets including the critical one of Riley Mudford who top scored for Railway with 79. It was a dramatic collapse with five wickets falling for a single run, and that not off the bat.
A score of 194 looked well below par on a good wicket, but at 33/4 Merrion were in trouble, but a 72 run partnership between Harbinson [72*] and Franco Marais [31] put Merrion back in the driving seat. With DLS applied after an extended rain break the revised target was 151. Skipper Dom Joyce [15*] and Harbinson saw the team home in the 27th over.
The refixed Irish Senior Cup game the following day saw a large crowd at Anglesea Rd enjoy an excellent game of cricket. The visitors, YMCA, won the toss and batted. Runs came quickly with two Tectors at the crease but wickets soon started to falland at 105/6 Merrion were well on top. Late runs From Tom [46] and Rory [29] Anders and some late hitting by Mikey O’Reilly [28*] allowed YMCA to post a competitive 248/9. For Merrion the wickets were spread around with Mohammed Sinan [3/52] the most successful.
Merrion’s inning started badly with Stephen Doheny and John Anderson both out with only 40 on the board. But Swapnil Modgill [112], promoted to open the innings, did not disappoint with an excellent maiden ISC century. When Modgill was finally out with the score on 174, it was eft to Sam Harbinson [92*] and Jack Carty [26*] to finish off the game with five overs to spare and set up another encounter with Waringstown in the QF.
To complete a very successful long weekend, Merrion Womens 1st XI continued their winning run in the league with a victory by 42 runs over Pembroke. Batting first Merrion scored 172/4 thanks in the main to a half-century from Leah Paul [77 off 56 balls] and Rebecca Shokell [44 off 37 balls].
Pembroke fought hard and at one stage looked to be in with an outside chance of victory, but two wickets from Sibha Bhoja [2/14] finished off the game. There were also wickets for Rachel Delaney [1/17], Celeste rack [1/18] and Sophie Stewart [1/6] as the Pemrboke innings ended on 130/5.