Pembroke end Balbriggan hopes and stay in title race

Pembroke ended Balbriggan’s title hopes while keeping their own challenge alive with a convincing 72-run victory built around a superb fourth-wicket partnership between Addison Sherriff and Sanil Gupta.

The Sydney Parade side posted 269 for six from their 50 overs, with Sherriff and Gupta adding 128 for the fourth wicket in the defining stand of the innings.

Overseas professional Sherriff top-scored with 86 from 75 balls, striking five fours and three sixes, while Gupta made 63 from 66 deliveries with seven fours and two maximums.

Earlier, in-form JJ Garth and Macdara Cosgrave had laid a platform with 36 and 35 respectively before the middle-order pair took control. Seb De Oliveira was Balbriggan’s most successful bowler with three for 52, while Jordan Hollard claimed two wickets.

Balbriggan’s reply never really gathered the momentum required despite several useful contributions. Prashan Naidoo made 22 and Ruan Strauss 20 before Kai Curran and Christopher De Freitas attempted to rebuild the innings. Curran top-scored with 46 from 57 balls, while De Freitas added 24, but Pembroke kept striking at crucial stages.

Paul Lawson was excellent with three for 27 from his 10 overs, while Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie also claimed three wickets for 25 as he showed his underused all-round abilities. Byron McDonough picked up two.

Andrew Darroch offered some late resistance with an unbeaten 23, but Balbriggan were dismissed for 197 in 42 overs.

The result brought an end to Balbriggan’s title aspirations, while Pembroke remain in contention as the Leinster Premiership race heads towards its conclusion. Pembroke though will need Malahide to shock Merrion while they need to beat Leinster to complete what would be a remarkable quintuple of trophies.