Mooney steps up for North

Cricket Round-up: North Leinster got their defence of the Regional Challenge series off to a winning start on Saturday with a hard-fought win over the Southern XI at Milverton.

Set a reasonable target of 275 to win (not as daunting as it might have been on larger grounds or less true pitches), North Leinster went about it with the usual haste of openers Jason Molins and Jeremy Bray. But with score on 80, Molins was caught by Roger Whelan, and when Bray and, later, Andre Botha followed him back to the pavilion, things looked decidedly sticky for North Leinster.

Eoin Morgan then steadied things, batting within himself and not taking any chances against the tight spin of Pembroke's Wiz Hastie. But the caution of the North Leinster batsmen meant they fell behind the run rate, and by the time the scoreboard showed that 10 overs remained, North Leinster still needed 93 runs for victory.

Enter John Mooney. The North County man, batting at six, decided it was time to take a few chances and duly upped the tempo. And it paid off. His unbeaten 56 came off just 45 balls and included three sixes, while at the other end, he was supported by Thinus Fourie whose 59 not out was delivered at exactly one run per ball.

The Southern XI innings had been dominated by the patience, timing and concentration of a classy Carl Hosford century. With some particularly fine straight driving, the YMCA captain made the quality bowling of Botha, Fourie and Conor Armstrong look ordinary.

Yesterday, a magnificent 123 not out from Andy White reduced the North West to an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat in Lisburn. White and newcomer Mark Hutchinson (56 not out) put on an unbroken stand of 130 for the third wicket. The North West had made a disappointing 196 for 9 off 50 overs earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, in Section A of the Lewis Hohn Williams League, Pembroke suffered their first league defeat of the season to Railway Union at Sydney Parade.

Railway's Adrian Murphy bludgeoned his way to 108 not out, hitting five sixes, including one whopper that sailed clean over the houses at the Sandymount end, as his side eased past Pembroke's total of 179 with four wickets and 11 balls in hand.

Also in Section A, Malahide beat Merrion by 28 runs thanks chiefly to 82 from their professional, Mike Smith. In Section B, North County were too strong for The Hills at Milverton and 117 from Ireland skipper Jason Molins made sure that Phoenix posted 268 for 7, a total 105 runs beyond the batsmen from Leinster CC.