Or better still Miracle on Castle Avenue as the heavens opened and saved the 4ths from certain defeat.  81 for 9 off 21 with 19 overs remaining when the rains came and the match was Abandoned as a No Result.  After 16 we were 58 for 9 in reply to 188/9 in 40 overs by Clontarf 5ths.  Enter number 10 batter Matthew Langan age 13 and number 11 Daniel Read age 17.   Neither were daunted and scored skillfully and freely at near run a ball.  They put on 23 undefeated runs for the last wicket and saved the day.   Earlier our oldest rivals notched up a strong score of 188 on a placid grass wicket and slow outfield.  Read was the pick of the bowlers, opening up and bowling through, 8 overs 2 maidens 1 for 23.  Good support from Eoghan Keohane 2/36, Liam Lydon 2/37, Roy Subhadip 2/15, Karthik 1/37 and 8 overs of off spin from Adam Doyle 1/33.  

After a typical sumptuous Clontarf tea* we never got going against unthreatening bowling.  That is until Langan and Read put their hands up.

Clontarf 5th won the toss and batted.
The match is refixed for Saturday 7 September in Malahide.  Castle Avenue is out of commission from 12 August due to works on their square.

Brian Gilmore

*including home made scones topped with jam and cream!