CRICKET:THE BEAUTIFUL grounds of The Hills Cricket Club at Milverton in Skerries has long provided visiting teams and supporters with the heartiest of welcomes.
On Saturday night, the Fingal club did some more welcoming as the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup finally arrived at the ground known locally as the Vineyard.
Five years on from losing their only final appearance to great rivals North County, The Hills hammered 2010 champions Merrion by eight wickets at Castle Avenue, Clontarf.
Yet again their bowling attack triumphed, with all five bowlers taking wickets as Merrion collapsed from 122 for two to 153 all out in the space of 53 deliveries.
Skipper Naseer Shoukat was again the hero with the ball, the 46-year-old former Ireland international taking three for 16 off his 10 overs, while Hills veteran Luke Clinton took three for 26.
With nine of Merrion’s batsmen failing to make double figures, it was only the Ireland international duo of Dom Joyce (51) and John Anderson (47) who made any impression on the scorecard.
Openers Jonno Andrews (24) and Daryl Calder set a steady platform in The Hills’ reply, putting on 54 for the first wicket, and Calder went on to finish unbeaten on 64. Mike Baumgart made 36 as they got home with more than 10 overs to spare.
Alas, there was to be no Fingal double celebrated at The Vineyard yesterday as Balbriggan lost the first staging of the RSA National Cup decider to NCU side Muckamore by three wickets.
