Report by Paul Reynolds

For a long period at the begining of this game, it felt as if one had been transported back thirty years; back to the days before bowling limitations meant that you actually needed a team now, and not just a few players. As Paul Rodgers and Ray McDonnell toiled away, you could easily imagine Gerry Duffy twirling away over after over. After twenty four overs of this Wednesday afternoon match, skipper Rob Kenealy had kept his cards pretty close to his chest (in fact under his string vest) and had only used the two bowlers. But then why change when you're getting the desired results from those that you have entrusted the new ball?

Rodgers ended up with four wickets in one must have been one of the most energy sapping spells of recent times. Bowling into a gale, up the hill, the genial Scot was still surprising batsmen at the end of the spell, and it looked as if he could have gone on all afternoon. His speciality, was a delivery bursting from just short of a length, Raza ur Rehman's three catches at gully emphasizing the effectiveness of this delivery. With Ray McDonnell collecting another one, Merrion were in all sorts of bother at the half way stage, something near 80-5. It needed an old head and a bit of wisdom, since any moisture in the pitch had gone and Merrion needed 240 to be competitive. Luckily Mssrs Allwright and O'Keefe were on hand to hit some lusty blows, O'Keefe thumping an extra cover drive for 6 first ball. The period of spin in the middle of the innings wasn't hugely successful, initial success for Rule later drifted away, and Merrion improved on their 149-7, with Allwright especially biffing the total onwards and upwards. Eventually Kenealy and Hussein polished things off, but not before the total reached 189.

I've just realised that I haven't mentioned Leinster's fielding, and more specifically it's catching. It was dire. Nine catches were dropped, ranging from the easy (Mr Hussein please stand up), to the mind bogglingly difficult (all of mine obviously). The full role call consists of Hussein (3), K Taylor (2), R ur-Rahman (2), Reynolds (2). It doesn't make pretty reading.

So 190 to win it was, and out toddled Lucas and Reynolds. The tempo of the innings was promptly set as Robbie Ensor and partner, whilst not spraying it around, were generous enough to throw in a few half volleys, so that the openers were briskly out of the blocks. Reynolds drove and pulled, Lucas drove and pucked, and before anyone had noticed, 50 had been knocked off the total. Lucas got caught in two minds by the impressive Anish Ragavan, Parkinson snaffling a dolly at short mid off, and then Miley gave the impression that Senior 3 is a level of two better than Section A (instead of a hundred levels below). But then Asif Hussein arrived to accompany Reynolds. Carty and Ragavan had managed to put the brakes on, and it wasn't until Reynolds decided to bop Carty for three boundaries in an over that the shackles were broken off. Reynolds reached fifty number three for the season, and Hussein got to his first fifty for the seconds.

And that was it really. An eight wicket victory, 20 overs to spare, and an increased league average somewhere near 83%.