Pembroke powered into the semi-finals of the Irish Cup with another devastatingly impressive performance against Lisburn at Wallace Park.
Having already won at The Lawn and Shaw’s Bridge in the competition this season they completed the hat-trick of wins against the top three NCU clubs with a thumping 228 runs victory.
Andrew Balbirnie led the way with 97 (five fours three sixes), given out lbw to Neil Whitworth and he was backed up 59 from JJ Garth, 36 from captain Jack Tector and significantly by professional A Sheriff He hit 77 from 47 balls with 10 fours and a six as the Lisburn bowlers were put to the sword.
Neil Whitworth did end up with four wickets, but at a cost of 75 runs and Ewan Wilson had three for 48 from his eight overs.
Lisburn needed all their top batters to fire but Ross Adair was caught at mid-off in the first over to Sheriff, who also had Whitworth caught behind for 16 and when Gavin Hoey joined the attack he had Ben Calitz caught at slip for 11.
That left Lisburn 55 for five and Hoey did the rest, wrapping up the tail to finish with five for 23 in just 6.5 overs. What odds an away draw in the semi-final to an NCU club in the semi-final? They will have no fears.
An astonishing innings of 126 not out by Woodvale captain Ruhan Pretorius could not prevent Leinster from reaching the semi-final of the Irish Cup.
Pretorius rescued Woodvale from the perils of 76 for seven to a total of 176 for seven with his partner in the eighth wicket century stand, James Martin, having to face only 12 of the 62 balls; Martin scored a solitary single.
After a delayed start, the game was reduced to 35 overs and Leinster, after winning the toss controlled the first 24.4 overs. None of the other batters made double figures as Jay Moondra and Thomas O’Connor took the first four wickets, including Ludwig Keastner for an 11-ball duck.
But Pretorius took control for last 10 overs, hitting 12 sixes and five fours in his 112-ball innings.
When Younas Ahmadzai and Gareth Delany were sharing a third wicket stand of 95, Leinster seemed to be strolling to victory but James Martin broke the partnership and when Pretorius forced Delany to play on for 73 (six fours, four sixes), the visitors still needed 28 at a run a ball.
Tight bowling from Pretorius and Evan Carlisle left them requiring 18 off the last two overs, but Saqib Bahadur and Joey Carroll took 16 off the penultimate over and they got over the line with three balls and four wickets to spare.
CSNI booked their place in the semi-final with a convincing 148-run victory over Rush at Kenure.
The visitors posted an imposing 311, built around half-centuries from New Zealand international Michael Rae (64) and Ryan Hunter (61), while Stuart Thompson added 47 and Finn Lutton 33. Abi Taniwal claimed 3-42 for Rush.
The reply never gained momentum as CSNI's bowlers shared the wickets. Jack McGee top-scored with 35, while Abidullah Taniwal made 27 before Rush were dismissed for 163. Finn Lutton, Jake Collingwood and Harry Dyer each took two wickets. Notably, six members of the CSNI side have progressed through the club's youth system since Under-11 level.
2002 winners Malahide held their nerve to edge Railway Union by six runs in a thrilling contest at The Village.
Adam Doyle led the way with an excellent 71, while Robbie Foulkes added 55 as Malahide posted 226-9. Srihan Karpe (4-31) and Digamber Mishra (3-37) were the pick of the Railway attack.
Railway Union pushed the chase all the way, with Bruce Whaley making 63 and Ash Prakash contributing 47. Hayden Hamilton (36) and Rob Carr (34) also kept hopes alive, but Timcy Khanduja’s 3-27 and Jeremy Martins’ 3-50 proved decisive as Malahide secured a narrow last-ball victory.
