Two very competitive and close T20 games played on the one day in Corkagh Park, Clondalkin the home of Adamstown CC.  First up at 2pm was Rush 3.  Winning the toss Malahide batted first on the mat amid longish, thick grass outfield.  Nick Payne and Robert Chambers were welcome returnees.  In fact the turning point in the innings and the game was the 16th over when out of the blue Robert clobbered 20 including a six and 2 fours. 90 for 9 off 20 overs.  Then the bowlers got to work: Vikas Gulati 0/21, Eoghan Keohane 1/8, Roy Subhadip 1/25, Daniel Read 2/22 - all bowled their full quota of 5 overs with accuracy and skill withstanding the pressure to defend a low total.  Eoghan's analysis were remarkable.  And Roy off spun to his best performance.  Payne held onto 2 catches at cover point and one Rush batter was lulled fatally into taking on a Chambers missile from the deep . Rush scored 83/7 off 20 as the 4's edged home by 7 runs.

A quick turnaround for the second game which begun at 5.30 v Adamstown 3. To their surprise and disappointment the west Dublin outfit were inserted.  They like to chase.  Once again the same 4 bowled out of their skin as batter after batter tried to launch them into orbit.  Keohane 1/26, Subhadip 0/31, Gulati 1/22, Read 3/30 - 5 overs each.  Adamstown 111 for 7 off 20.  Opening up Marv Russell held the innings together with a resolute 42.  When former Adamstown player Raj Chandi 19 and Marv were together the win was definitely on.  However, the innings ran out of steam and the 4's fell 10 runs short.  101/9 off 20.  Earlier in the morning Adamstown defeated Rush and so having won 2 games go through to the next round.

No umpires, meadowy outfield, tealess, the moving of cars between games due to an early shutting park, challenging decisions but all told two strong, satisfying duels.

Good to meet up with the other Vikas - Purbiya who attended before finalising his emigration to Sydney, Australia.  

Brian Gilmore, Captain