For the second week in a row, Malahide hosted a very strong visiting eleven and lost the toss.  On this occasion the conditions were very different: the Phoenix opening pair strode to the crease on the top pitch in some glorious sunshine with only the hint of a breeze.  Ewan Haslett and Dan Read opened the bowling and any short-pitched deliveries were well and truly punished.  Although change bowlers Diarmuid Burke and Ciaran Cope were very economical, it wasn't until Ben Askew entered the attack that the opening partnership was broken.  With Ben collecting another wicket in his second over, the Phoenix scoring rate slowed substantially, leaving them at 2 for 73 after 13 overs.   Rory Govan and Matthew Jeffrey-Carrick both picked up a wicket courtesy of two good catches from Diarmuid and Ewan, but some powerful hitting in the last three overs saw Phoenix post a strong total of 128 for 4.  Good keeping from SJ De Klerk and some smart fielding from Eoghan Keohane, Paul Devine and Chris Deacon led to a better fielding performance:  in addition only 12 sundries were conceded, in contrast to the 32 accumulated the week before.

Rory and Ewan have probably never faced a more disciplined bowling attack.  With 8 overs gone, Malahide were only 11-0, and not for the want of trying to dispatch the loose ball.  There were simply no loose balls to hit.  Eventually, Rory and Ewan were both bowled trying to force the pace.  SJ started well, with the first boundary of the Malahide innings but unfortunately mistimed a pull to short mid-wicket.  Eoghan and Ben batted very well for a partnership of 31 runs. Eoghan chose the balls to hit, before being run-out and Ben played some very attacking shots before being bowled for the top score of 22.  Paul and Chris each had some time at the crease, ending the innings at 5 for 53, a good 76 runs short of a winning score.  Like last week, a lot for the lads and the coaches to think about!!