CRICKET NEWS: ON THEIR fourth time of trying, Leinster finally broke their duck in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup with a 27-run victory over Donemana in an enthralling final at Milverton yesterday.
The Rathmines club, who put forward the idea of the competition back in 1981, went on to lose the first decider to North the following year. There were also back-to-back losses in the late ’90s, but yesterday their day finally came as they defeated Donemana.
It makes it five straight titles for Leinster Cricket Union sides as Anton Scholtz’s side made an imposing total of 265 for eight from their 50 overs after winning the toss and batting.
They got off to the worst possible start after their professional Carlos Brathwaite was bowled by left-armer Stephen Dunn off the first ball of the match.
JP O’Dwyer had not played a senior game for over three months, but despite struggling with an Achilles injury he would play a vital role in his side’s success with an innings of 61 off 85 balls.
His 92-run patnership with Mark Jones (44) offered a vital platform, which was pushed on by Scholtz’s 75 from 67 deliveries, while Ian O’Herlihy (37) and Rob Kenealy added vital runs at the end. Only 16-year-old Andrew McBrine survived the onslaught, his ten overs of off-spin coming at a cost of 28 and included the wickets of Jones and O’Dwyer.
A target of 266 always looked like being too much for the North West side and the loss of Graham Boyd for 14 left them on 25 for one. With Pakistan professional Azhar Shaffique in great touch, however, they managed to make it to 133 for one in the 32nd over.
Scholtz would make the breakthrough, having Shaffique caught behind for 55 and he would also bowl Junior McBrine for two. Leinster then found a bowling hero in Rob Miley, who rattled through the Donemana middle order to pick up four wickets for 46.
