Report by Paul Reynolds

Finally a return to the playing of cricket, although the entertainment only lasted until late afternoon.There is never much that can be said about comprehensive victories, England's victory over South Africa during the week being a case in point. Close matches can have inches of news print devoted to them, whereas a lack of contest is normally quickly forgotten about. I would have thought that even Malahide wouldn;t be too disheartened. Surely they should be being beaten by a 2nd team shouldn't they? With Malahide 2nds in the league above, it's hardly a slur on the standard of Malahide.

And hence this game will probably be quickly forgotten. There was some decent cricket, notably the 136 run partnership between George Dockrell and Byron Vermaak. Vermaak was the dominant partner, scoring freely - Dockrell using some rare time in the middle well. The gap between Senior 3 and Ireland A is about as big a gap as is possible in a week, but at least the feeling of bat on ball can't be beaten. He flicked well of his legs, and drove well square on the off side as well.

The opportunity for an easier chase was set up by some so-so Leinster bowling. Vermaak was defended easily when short, and did too much with it when full. The twenty two yards of loam in the middle of the field, were dry; especially considering the everglade like outfield, but it wasn't surprising that it was on the slow side. Wickets were slow to come, with MacDonnell puncturing the dyke tht was the Malahide top order with wicket number one, but the trickle became a torrent, as the left arm spinners, Dockrell and Goodman took four between them in the middle overs. Amir Khan bowled a couple of brisk overs at the end to complete the flood, a slightly fortuitous stumping by Reynolds to dismiss Reynolds, and a gritty 46 by Coughlan being the last two wickets to fall.

And that was that really. As the Sunday afternoon crowds wondered in to the ground, the teams trooped off, and by 7pm, I was the only player left in the bar - a sign of the times. Two games left for the 2nds, this week's trip to Balbriggan a must win as the league season draws to it's autumnal end.