Cricket:Today's Antalis Cup final between Merrion and Clontarf at Rathmines is set to be an evenly matched affair. A feature of the game will be the performance of the bowling attacks, with both sides fielding a powerful array of talent.

Merrion have Thinus Fourie and overseas pro Matthew Petrie, who has electrified domestic Leinster cricket this season. The Ballsbridge club will be keen to secure their second major trophy of the season after they won the Dublin Grass Machinery League final, away to Phoenix.

Greg Molins of Clontarf identifies Petrie as the major threat to the trophy going to Castle Avenue. "He's taken a stack load of wickets at a very low average this year, certainly we have to make sure he doesn't blow us away early. If we can get through his opening spell we think we'll be able to dominate the game" said Molins.

The figures suggest Molins is right to be cautious. Petrie, who is over from his native Queensland, has taken 24 wickets this term, seven more than the next best bowler in Leinster. His wickets have been taken at an astonishing average of six runs each.

"He swings it away from the right-handers at a decent pace," says Dom Joyce, Merrion captain, who believes the national team could do worse than employ Petrie as their overseas pro for the Friends Provident Trophy next year. "He compares very well with Nanty Hayward," says Joyce.

The batting sides appear evenly matched. Dom Joyce currently tops the averages with an impressive 296 runs at 74, including two half centuries. For Clontarf, Rod Hokin is close behind in terms of averages, with 62 per innings and he will find support from Molins and Alex Cusack, the Ireland all rounder, who scored his maiden international century against Scotland in Belfast last week.

Both these players contributed significantly in the semi-final of the tournament when Clontarf disposed of YMCA. Having lost the early wickets of Dom Rigby (0) and Eoghan Delaney (2), both to Stuart McCready, they were rescued first by Hokin who formed an important partnership with Cusack (45) and then at 129 for 5, Under-23 player Andrew Poynter linked with Molins with a sixth-wicket stand of 93. Poynter (4 for 38) and Hokin (3 for 18) were also key with the ball, as they hustled YMCA out for 158.

In their semi-final, Merrion dominated Malahide, who capitulated to the nippy medium pace of Fourie, who took 4 for 29, and were dismissed for 151. A century stand between Dom Joyce (64) and Alex Morrison (54) ensured a nine-wicket win.