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WARINGSTOWN – A classy unbeaten 74 with the bat and 3-24 with the ball from Australian-import Peter Francis swung a tense Arachas Irish Senior Cup Final to visitors Leinster Cricket Club – the southern sides second trophy in the Cup’s history.

Coming in with his side at 138-5 in the 35th over, Francis combined with Joey Carroll (78) in an 82-run sixth-wicket stand in 73 balls to swing the match momentum. Francis displayed his all-round batting prowess with four big sixes lofted over the long on and long off boundary, as well as a perfectly-timed scoop shot for four during his 57-minute assault on the Waringstown bowlers.

Carroll was the more circumspect batter, taking 108 balls for his 78, however, his impact was no less significant having arrived at the wicket with his side mired at 11-3 in the 5th over. Carroll’s resilient batting display laid the platform from which Francis launched his late overs attack. There were also handy middle-order contributions from Saqib Bahadur (42) and Gareth Delany (35) as Leinster CC finished on 259-6 from 50 overs – an incredible 64 runs coming from the last five overs.

For Waringstown, Irish international Graham Hume impressed with 2-35 from 10 overs, but by the innings break the momentum was firmly with Leinster.

Not to be outdone by his own batting display, Francis then steamed in with the ball, making an early breakthrough – dismissing James McCollum for 5, after Leinster captain Bilal Azhar had taken the first wicket of Adam Dennison (3).

Pat Botha (32) and Morgan Topping stabilised the Waringstown response with a 63-run stand, but the introduction of Delany induced a loose sweep shot from Botha with a neat catch at backward square leg by Carroll.

Topping then took control of the Waringstown innings, smashing a superb 110 from 120 balls, an innings that featured 4 sixes and 6 fours. While he was at the crease it seemed the home side were gaining the ascendency, but just as belief had risen amongst the Waringstown faithful, Azhar brought himself back on and claimed two wickets in three balls, including that of Topping. Once the in-form Waringstown batter was gone so to went the match with the last four wickets falling for just three runs.

Leinster CC fans will now travel home pleased that a second Bob Kerr Trophy has been secured – 14 years after their first title success.

MATCH SUMMARY

Waringstown CC v Leinster CC, Arachas Irish Senior Cup Final, Waringstown, 12 August 2023

Leinster 259-6 (50 overs; J Carroll 78, P Francis 74*; G Hume 2-35)
Waringstown 211 (45 overs; M Topping 110; P Francis 3-24, B Azhar 3-45)

Leinster won by 48 runs

See full scorecard

Craig Easdown
No
Connaught