THE man of the match adjudicator had an easy time of it at the Notts Sports Cup final in Sydney Parade last evening. Merrion's Australian Brett Saxon played a crucial role with both bat and ball, allowing his side to overcome Clontarf by seven wickets, with 15 balls to spare.

The 20-over format is just the sort of game to suit Saxon's temperament and his innings of 58 off 50 balls, including two sixes and five fours, had a sizeable Merrion contingent in raptures.

Admittedly, it was Saxon's compatriot, Richie Dowse, who originally swung the game in Merrion's direction. After Deryck Vincent and Andre Botha had brought Clontarf to 39 in the sixth over, Dowse had Vincent caught by Stephen King at point. Saxon then removed Botha in the ninth over and the Clontarf innings lost its momentum.

Ronan O'Reilly stayed the distance but never fully managed to get hold of Merrion's seamers and the fielders supported enthusiastically. Saxon took two further wickets with his medium pacers as Clontarf nicked and nudged their way to 114 for 5.

Merrion's reply began rather differently, with Saxon driving Brian MacNeice back over his head for a huge six in the third over. However, Botha's pace accounted for Dowse and Tristan McLaren and the departure of Damien Joyce in the seventh over had Merrion in trouble.

The pitch, docile enough during the Clontarf innings suddenly began to misbehave as McNeice and Botha banged the ball in short of a length. However, this was playing to Saxon's forte and his pulls and cuts kept Merrion rattling along.

In retrospect, Clontarf skipper David McGeehan might have introduced young Keith Spellman earlier, for Vincent failed to exert his usual steadying influence. By the time Spellman bowled, Saxon and Gus Joyce had regained control and when Saxon reached his 50 with a six over mid wicket, the game was Merrion's.