CRICKET: Phoenix are odds on to emerge unbeaten from Section B of the Lewis Hohn Williams League after registering another victory on Saturday.

On a green wicket, Ireland openers Jason Molins and Jeremy Bray found themselves back in the pavilion very early against The Hills with their team reeling at 4 for 2. But the rest of the team took a rare opportunity to shine.

David Langford-Smith (44) and Chris Torrisi (39) belied the tricky batting conditions to help Phoenix post a respectable 182 total despite some fine bowling from Barry Archer, who ended with figures of 4-35. In reply, The Hills managed only 92, Langford-Smith rounding off a good display with three wickets.

North County's two wins over the weekend made them favourites to join Phoenix in the semi-finals. Andre Botha showed why he bats number three for Ireland with a brilliant 119 (158 balls, 15 fours and one six) as County cruised to 299 for 7 off their 50 overs against Leinster.

Chasing a score of almost six an over was always going to be tough, notwithstanding the small Inch boundary, and a hat-trick from South African Nathan Palmer, who claimed 7-21, sealed the emphatic 173-run win.

Then yesterday, Palmer bagged another four scalps as County cruised to an eight-wicket win over YMCA, again at Inch. A highlight was a smooth, unbeaten 50 from Eoin Morgan.

YMCA, had been going well in the league (Wayne Murray hit an uncompromising 70 not out on Saturday to push them past CYM's 156 total at Terenure) but now must pull off an unlikely win over Phoenix to feature in the latter stages of this competition.

At College Park yesterday, CYM beat Dublin University in a rain-affected match.