The Sandymount side won their 16th Leinster Cup – a record – by 222 runs on a scorching day in which several lesser lights stuck up their hands.
With Cricket Ireland forbidding Jai Moondra, Byron McDonough and Gavin Hoey permission to play ahead of the controversial series against Afghanistan this week, both sides had to test their depth chart, and Pembroke’s proved decisive.
The hosts won the toss and batted, but the early loss of Tim Tector didn’t stop their positive approach. JJ Garth picked a glorious occasion to score his second senior century, adding 93 with Andy Balbirnie (27) and 86 with Harry Tector, who went on to make 94.
With Lorcan Tucker, Addison Sherriff and Daniel Murray continuing the hitting, Leinster ate lunch with a formidable target of 335 looming.
Their chances of threatening that went early, with Ollie Riley breaking Tom Johnson’s off stump in the second over. Pro Sheriff (2-10) and Riley (2-25) bowled a hostile and near-perfect powerplay which left Leinster 28-4. The watching Ireland head coach Gary Wilson could only have been impressed by the youngster’s control and venom.
When Younas Ahmadzai’s powerful drive somehow stuck in Paul Lawson’s hands off the bowling of Murray, it was all over bar the shouting; Murray picked up two more in an impressive spell of 3-23 to leave Leinster rocking on 51-7.
Saqib Bahadur did offer resistance, he and Mark Tonge taking the score to 100 but Paul Lawson’s eccentric spin (3-14) broke their stand and mopped up the tail, recording his 50th senior cup wicket, a modern record.
On march Pembroke to the third leg of the Quintuple, the All-Ireland T20 finals in Newbuildings, Co Derry next weekend.
