Leinster reach fourth Senior Cup final

CRICKET: LEINSTER WILL carry the hopes of the province in making it a fifth straight southern win in the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup after they won through to next month's decider with an eight-run Duckworth-Lewis victory over Limavady at Rathmines on Saturday.

Anton Scholtz’s side made 212 for seven from their 50 overs, with valuable contributions from Mark Jones (42), Conor Mallon (36) and the skipper himself, who chipped in with 34.

A strong Limavady batting line-up would have been confident of chasing down that total, and opener Ian McGregor ensured they got off to a steady start.

The rain which had threatened all day duly arrived, with Limavady set a new target of 191 in 43 overs. McGregor reached his half-century in the 30th over as they moved to 109 for three, before Leinster’s West Indian professional Carlos Brathwaite bowled him for 53.

The tall Barbadian would also claim the wicket of Dean Curry to leave him with figures of four for 28. When the rain returned again in the 36th the visitors were on 143 for six, still eight runs short on Duckworth-Lewis.

The umpires gave it until 7.30pm before deeming it as a result, with Leinster going on to make their fourth All-Ireland decider.

It’s never been a happy hunting ground for Leinster, having lost all three finals, and they will face last year’s beaten finalists Donemana at Milverton on September 4th.

The Tyrone club proved too strong for a young Pembroke side, beating them by four wickets at The Holm.

The Sydney Parade side were bowled out for 154 in the 49th over, with Ireland Under-19 players Andrew Balbirnie (41) and Graham McDonnell (31) their top-scorers.

Donemana pro Azhar Shaffique picked up three wickets for 28, while twins James and Junior McBrine suffocated Pembroke’s batting with their spin, conceding just 35 runs in 18.1 overs and taking four wickets between them.

Junior bagged three of those, but it was James who would play the key innings with the bat, hitting a quick-fire 55 not out to bring Donemana home in the 32nd over.