CORK – Phoenix Cricket Club won their second Butlers Irish Senior Cup after a dramatic one-run win over Merrion Cricket Club at the Mardyke today.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Phoenix started poorly losing opener Shane Getkate on the third ball. Jack Lalor (21) and Levon Shields (40) stabilised the innings, but after Lalor fell with the score on 46 the momentum shifted significantly. Regular wickets began to fall and soon after the Park side found themselves on 101-5 and facing a Merrion attack that sensed an early finish to the Final.
Tyrone Kane struck a late 44 not out, and he marshalled the Phoenix lower order with intelligence to get his side up to 211 from 44.2 overs. However, Merrion would have been the happier side going into the innings break.
Set 212 for the Cup win, the Merrion top order clicked into action early. Swapnil Modgill (42), Stephen Doheny (19) and John Anderson (39) batted solidly without taking too many risks, looking resolute at chasing down the target at a leisurely pace.
Enter Irish international Ben White. The legspinner swept through the top and middle order claiming a Player of the Match 5-34 from 10 overs. The “never say die” attitude of the Phoenix team was on full display as Merrion collapsed from 176-3 to 202-9. Sam Harbinson was the only batter to offer resistance with 60 off 66 balls, but the game entered its final over with a nail-biting equation – Merrion needed 9 runs off 6 balls with 1 wicket in hand.
Phoenix skipper Adam Chester threw the ball to Dev Ranolia who dutifully bowled a tight line, and then on the 5th ball caught the glove of Tom Stanton who was caught down legside by keeper Nic Pretorious.
Phoenix’s one run victory meant the 38 year wait for a second Bob Kerr Trophy was over.
MATCH SUMMARY
Merrion v Phoenix, Butlers Irish Senior Cup Final, Cork, 17 August 2024
Phoenix 211 (42.2 overs; T Kane 44*, L Shields 40; P Francis 3-37)
Merrion 210 (49.5 overs; S Harbinson 60; B White 5-34)
Phoenix won by one run
