Report by Paul Rodgers

Had this match been scheduled to be played anywhere other than Observatory Lane, following the excessive rainfall of the evening and early morning before, it is likely that it would have been called off: that the match could go ahead, albeit on the artificial wicket, is testament to the Leinster CC ground staff (Pete, first and foremost, Rob and Guy). The square itself was damp and a little heavy underfoot and, conscious of the fact that the Antalis Cup Final is being played on Saturday, extra covers were applied to the worst affected areas of the square prior to play commencing.

Asim Amjad was welcomed back as Leinster skipper following his hiatus overseas and, winning the toss, elected to bat first, the idea being to put runs on the board and exert pressure on a Merrion 4th X1 still seeking its first victory in Middle A this season, in a match that was reduced to 40 overs per side by the umpires, pre-empting any possible delays for rain. Luke Ginnell opened with George Dockrell and the two made a brisk start before Luke was bowled by a ball which kept low for 11 and George was joined in the middle by Peter Johnston. George, returning from his star performance for the province in England last week, was looking in excellent touch, dispatching anything that was fractionally off line behind square on the leg side with a series of wristy glances to the boundary.

Like Luke, Pete had gotten a start and was looking comfortable on 10 before driving one back to Merrion's opening bowler Rashid, coming down the hill from the Rathmines End, who was happy to snaffle the return catch to leave Leinster on around 40/2 after about 8. Dave Staunton, who has been in a rich vain of form this season, replaced Pete in the middle and immediately the scoring tempo began to be upped as Merrion, who looked a bowler or two short here, resorted to the twin pronged spin attack of one time Leinster favourite Alan Parkinson and young, gifted leg spinner O'Brien.

The rains came shortly afterwards and an early tea was taken: this seemed to invigorate Scully, in particular, who began to up the tempo as he and Dockrell started taking quick singles and pressurising the Merrion fielders: shortly, Scully tried one sweep to many and was bowled round his legs to leave Leinster on 160/7 after 36. Dave Lappin was the next man in and, after getting off the mark through the covers, was out misjudging a reverse sweep and when Ifti Sabir was strangled down the leg side three balls later, Leinster were in danger of not batting their overs. Dockrell, after taking three twos of the first three balls of the 38th over, then succumbed, finally and most unluckily, to one keeping low from the Rathmines end and was out for a fantastic 70 odd, leaving last man Paul Rodgers frustrated on 0 not out and allowing Merrion 42 overs in which to chase the total of 170 to win.

Leinster, with an attack featuring most of the main players for the thirds this year, were supremely confident that their total could be defended and, straight away were completely on top: Ray McDonnell, bowling from the Mountpleasant End, drew one Merrion opener forward to be smartly stumped by Luke Ginnell, who was excellent here, standing up to everything, and then Ifti Sabir, bowling from the Rathmines end, removed Parkinson's off stump from the ground with a wickedly seaming delivery. When McDonnell trapped Merrion's number 3 lbw in the next over, the Merrion innings was in disarray at 3/3.

After a mini recovery which saw Merrion move the score along to 20 without further damage, Ifti induced a drive to midwicket where the catch was smartly taken by Rodgers: Merrion then saw the Leinster opening bowlers off, and were on about 40/4 after 15 overs. Lappin replaced Sabir and Rodgers replaced McDonnell and, looking back to somewhere approaching his best, soon had Merrion's top scoring batsman number 4 caught at extra cover by Staunton, before another fantastic piece of work behind the stumps from Ginnell allowed Rodgers his second wicket and his first ever via a stumping.

Good work from Scully in the outfield in conjunction with Ginnell allowed for the seventh wicket, via run out, Rodgers was responsible for the eighth wicket, clean bowling Merrion's skipper, the ninth wicket was a run out as a result of another Scully/Ginnell collaboration and the Merrion innings ended on 87, after 30 overs, when Rodgers bowled last man O'Brien.

The thirds move back into second place in Middle A following this result and will be pleased at the ruthlessness displayed in defeating a very ordinary Merrion side. Phoenix on Saturday is the next fixture and a repeat of the form displayed in this match will see Leinster in with a fantastic chance of getting a result and keeping the pressure on the league leaders, Old Belvedere.