by Conor Dillon
With the addition of Moore and Jannat to the squad this season and given that Caird and Orla Martin figured so prominently in the successful chase at Trinity Captain Voice’s team had more of a bowling hue to it with Sile Martin and Mary Curley replacing her daughter and Caird respectively. The Ladies were still without last season’s discovery, Karinda Tolland and one hopes she will be available for the upcoming cup clash at The Hills. Would Marie Fahy have to referee the post match discussion over bragging rights between her Taverner husband and her Lady daughter?
The start was delayed as President Brown fretted about the square but to be fair Grounds chair Mike Godwin was also in the Taverners line up and play eventually got under way at 6.37. It was agreed that each side would bowl 15 8-ball overs, the first ball would be a free hit and there would be no lbw.The Ladies conferred and opted to field first. The eleven who took the field for Phoenix Ladies were : Captain Kate Voice, wicket keeper Debbie Chapman, Deirdre Fahy, Vanessa Kelada, Hannah McGuckin, Sarah Moore, Adil Jannat, Sarah McIntosh, Mary Curley, Sile Martin, Lisa Kelly.
Deirdre Fahy was entrusted with the new ball and Kevin Fahy was on strike. Kevin took a few balls to get his eye in but then had three consecutive scoring shots before being run out after an over-ambitious call by his partner Matt Hume. Hume and Jonathan Ebbs began to make more serious progress for the men until Ebbs retired on 23 under Taverner rules and Hume was on course for retirement until he offered a catch to Captain Voice off the bowling of Jannat. Carl Convery did not do much damage before being caught by Lisa Kelly as Jannat took a second wicket.
Rex Coghlan looked comfortable and made a useful 22 for the men including three boundaries. Kevin Watson and Tony Wall ran well for a while between the wickets until what might have been more prudently accepted as a dot ball saw Jannat’s arm challenged as she followed through and her throw hit the stumps. Another run out soon followed and I hope the outfielders will forgive my inability to name them. It was left to President Brown and Captain Maginnis to finish the Taverners’ innings on 111.
Not known for his bowling prowess in your correspondent’s time at Phoenix President Brown was given the honour of taking the new ball by Captain Maginnis. This will either go down in the annals as a very lucky or very prescient decision as the 62 year old wreaked havoc on the Ladies batting line up with Lisa Kelly caught and Sarah Moore and Sile Martin both bowled all as Debbie Chapman watched from the other end.
Chapman was soon out for 1 to Rex Coghlan but at last Hannah McGuckin and Vanessa Kelada brought some stability to the action in the middle and the Ladies’ score rose to 30. McGuckin was lucky when she chipped one shot and the ball fell safely before it could be caught. Captain Voice was adhesive for a while and contributed 4 to a stand of 13 and with good support from Jannat McGuckin saw the score reach 69 before she was finally bowled by Watson for 39. The Ladies were always a little behind the rate required to really unnerve the men but there was a tidy 10 not out from McIntosh and 2 not out from Fahy after she replaced Jannat who was run out on 14. Mary Curley was not required to bat as the innings closed with a deficit of 15 runs.
Lady of the Match Hannah mcGuckin 39 runs
