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Malahide top table

CRICKET: Malahide have moved to the top of Section A of the WMK League with two big wins over the weekend

James Fitzgerald
Mon Aug 09 2004 - 01:00

CRICKET: Malahide have moved to the top of Section A of the WMK League with two big wins over the weekend. On Saturday, a good, all-round performance from Richard Gale ensured that the Villagers prevailed over The Hills by 36 runs at Milverton.

Gale hit 44 as Malahide posted 219 for 8, with their overseas player, Michael Smith, top-scoring with 46. Then he took three wickets to restrict The Hills to 183 all out.

Yesterday, with rain taking its toll around the province, Malahide bowled and fielded very well to beat the mighty Phoenix by 15 runs in a match reduced to the lottery of a 20-over bash.

So, Malahide go top, but they have played three more games than second-placed North County, whose game over Railway Union was postponed. County are still the favourites to take the title, remaining unbeaten with five wins from five.

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In Section B, CYM moved off the bottom with victories over Old Belvedere on Saturday, when the sun shone, and then YMCA yesterday in another rain-affected, 20-overs match, with Warwick Hinkel and Michael Lax doing most of the damage for the Terenure boys. With YMCA and Belvedere having been challenging at the top of Section B, these results are good news for Rush, who stretched their lead with a close win over Merrion at Kenure yesterday.

Alan Butterley (27 not out) and Ronan Maguire (38 not out) put on an unbeaten 56 for the eighth wicket to rescue Rush and bring them home with five balls to spare in another game reduced to 20 overs by the rain.

WMK LEAGUE

Section A

At Milverton: Malahide 219 for 8, 50 overs (M Smith 46, R Gale 44; J Clinton 2-33, B Thomas 2-40) The Hills 183 all out, 47.4 overs (B Thomas 45, L Clinton 25; R Gale 3-37, D Ryan 2-46). Malahide (21 pts) bt The Hills (4 pts) by 36 runs

At Malahide: Malahide 128 all out, 20 overs (A Pyne 26; T Fourie 3-29) Phoenix 113 for 7, 20 overs (T Fourie 53, E Godward 30; M Smith 2-28). Malahide (20 pts) bt Phoenix (5 pts) by 15 runs.

At the Mardyke: Munster Reds v Clontarf - no play due to rain (8 pts each)

Section B

At Terenure: Old Belvedere 130 all out, 48.3 overs (P Dunne 41; M Lax 3-28) CYM 131 for 5, 27 overs (W Hinkel 57; B Delaney 3-31). CYM (23 pts) bt Old Belvedere (2 pts) by 5 wkts.

At Terenure: CYM 155 for 8, 20 overs (W Hinkel 72, M Lax 38; S McCready 3-27, S Taylor 2-41) YMCA 96 all out, 19 overs (A Dunlop 22; K Brennan 2-11, W Hinkel 2-15, M Lax 2-15). CYM (22 pts) bt YMCA (3 pts) by 59 runs.

At Kenure: Merrion 138 all out, 19.3 overs (K Beasley 40, D Joyce 33, D Poder 22; S Iqbal 4-13) Rush 139 for 7, 19.1 overs (R Maguire 38 not out, A Butterley 27 not out, F McAllister 21; D Joyce 3-24, A Fleming 2-17). Rush (22 pts) bt Merrion (3 pts) by 3 wkts.

Middle 2 Cup Final

At Kenure: Laois 212 for 8, 50 overs (N Asif 31; A Kay 4-48) Merrion 213 for 4, 42 overs (A O'Keefe 55, C O'Donoghue 88 not out). Merrion won by 6 wkts. Man of the match: Cillian O'Donoghue

Intermediate Cup Final - no play due to rain.