Irish Senior League Cup – S61

[crackit]

Approximate timeline
22 March: The earliest date I can start sending invites to the 64 teams listed in the Initial invitation list below.

• These include all Youth 1; Youth 2; and Youth 3 teams plus the top eight ranked teams from Youth 4.

• Note: this includes two tier 3 teams ranked outside the top 64.

• Invitations will be issued in tier order.

• This is because, to the best of my knowledge; where there are more than 64, or more likely 32, acceptances. Places will be allocated in the order teams were invited.

Update: 24 March, all the teams on the Initial Invitation list below have been invited.

5 April: All other teams from Youth 4 will be invited to take up any remaining places.
Update: 7 April, invitations sent to all the remaining teams in the Irish league setup. We still need 20 more acceptances before the deadline to make the full 64.

Update 19 April: The acceptance deadline has passed

• At the last count we had 50 entrants which means that we will start with a Round of 32, so not a Round of 64 teams as I hoped (maybe next season).

• A learning for me is that the 32 teams in the draw are those that were invited first; confirming what I suspected from last year.

• These will be the 32 highest ranked teams of those who accepted, as this was the order that I invited them (see the Initial Invitation list below.

• The draw has been made; so I will add a new post to cover that.

The First Round takes place on Saturday 26 April.

Finally, my apologies goes to the following teams who accepted but didn't make the cut. You all are eligible for the Irish Senior League Plate- S61 and will receive invitations shortly:

Western Suburbs Hacks
Blwe Scavengerz
Hammers CC
Vegas Venoms
Belmont CC
Spingleberry
Insane Inglewood Posse
Galway Gladiators CC
Chester Ducks
Dublin Devils
Muggles Cricket Club
Xessux Club
FPCC Ireland
St Johns Athletic
Aripal Qalandars
Zeugma Ferrets
Babylon5
Split the G

The League Plate is open to any teams in tiers 3 and 4 that did not get a place in the League Cup or that were knocked out in the first round.

This will be the final update of this post, but watch out for more posts on this thread. Cheers, Crackit

Initial invitation list
Rank League Rating Team
1 One Day 1.1 266,091 Chesney Champions
2 One Day 1.1 248,897 Me & My Buddies
3 One Day 1.1 248,102 Donna's Kebabs
4 One Day 2.2 246,075 Save the Rhino
5 One Day 1.1 246,058 Ballingeary Lakers
6 One Day 1.1 243,307 Aussie Battlers
7 One Day 1.1 242,253 Applewood Crossing
8 One Day 1.1 236,669 Uthaug
9 One Day 2.1 236,170 Barnsley St. Peter's
10 One Day 1.1 231,456 Friendly Fiends
11 One Day 2.2 229,814 Rebel Spinners
12 One Day 2.1 228,614 BTP's Altnaharra Athletic
13 One Day 3.3 227,967 Ireland Lions
14 One Day 2.1 227,213 Cork City Cobra's
15 One Day 2.1 224,602 Weston Super Mud CC
16 One Day 2.1 222,965 Spinney Wanderers
17 One Day 3.1 220,776 Jolly Boys Of Peckham
18 One Day 2.2 219,409 kilkenny
19 One Day 2.2 218,660 kato xi
20 One Day 2.1 217,721 Justhititfor6
21 One Day 2.1 216,473 Woodlands CC
22 One Day 2.2 215,037 Hunslet Parkside C.C.
23 One Day 2.2 214,269 Royal Eleven
24 One Day 2.2 213,959 The Gaelic Pingers
25 One Day 3.1 209,938 Corleone
26 One Day 2.1 209,315 The Dragon Warrior
27 One Day 3.4 205,586 Celtic Wolves
28 One Day 3.1 204,174 Staindrop Lordies
29 One Day 3.2 204,054 Meeting Mr Miandad
30 One Day 3.1 201,797 Billericay Bluebirds
31 One Day 3.4 200,920 All Leeds Aren't We
32 One Day 3.4 200,244 The WaddiWallas
33 One Day 4.2 199,894 TheBezBrigade
34 One Day 3.2 199,761 The Hurlutown Partnership
35 One Day 3.3 199,306 The Irish Super Giants
36 One Day 3.2 198,835 Cool Blasters
37 One Day 3.1 197,056 Alrewas All Saints
38 One Day 3.2 194,459 The New Originals
39 One Day 3.1 191,708 North Saxe
40 One Day 3.3 191,240 North Cardiff Cosmos
41 One Day 3.4 189,810 The Cross Lances
42 One Day 3.2 188,873 Dunbrody CC
43 One Day 3.3 188,657 Trinity
44 One Day 4.1 188,653 Ella XI
45 One Day 3.3 187,084 Shaktar Senseless
46 One Day 4.7 186,475 Blazing Dragons Cricket Club
47 One Day 3.4 186,122 Western Suburbs Hacks
48 One Day 3.2 185,538 Blwe Scavengerz
49 One Day 3.1 184,554 Hammers CC
50 One Day 2.2 182,363 Vegas Venoms
51 One Day 3.2 181,589 Belmont CC
52 One Day 3.4 181,065 Spingleberry
53 One Day 3.1 180,721 Insane Inglewood Posse
54 One Day 3.3 180,481 Q Dragon Empire
55 One Day 3.4 169,835 Galway Gladiators CC
56 One Day 4.6 169,102 Nordhorn CC
57 One Day 4.1 167,660 Christopher CC
58 One Day 3.3 166,951 Chester Ducks
59 One Day 4.5 166,756 Dublin Devils
60 One Day 4.7 163,139 Muggles Cricket Club
61 One Day 3.3 162,262 Shropshire CC
62 One Day 4.3 160,992 Snapper Organs CC
66 One Day 3.4 139,040 FPCC Ireland
68 One Day 3.2 136,578 Aripal Qalandars

[crackit]

Roll of Honour

Season 60:

• Winner: Chesney Champions

• Runner-up: Weston Super Mud CC

• Semi-finalists: Ballingeary Lakers; Me & My Buddies

Season 59:

• Winner: Ballingeary Lakers

• Runner-up: Donna's Kebabs

• Semi-finalists: Applewood Crossing; Cork City Cobra's

[crackit]

First Round
Note: Rankings used are as of the start of the season.

Draw
Woodlands CC (21) v North Saxe (39) [Senior Rivalry: 0-0]
Meeting Mr Miandad (29) v Applewood Crossing (7) [Rivalry: 5-5]
The New Originals (38) v Ella XI (44) [Senior Rivalry: 0-0]
All Leeds Aren't We (31) v Corleone (25) [Senior Rivalry: 0-0]
Shaktar Senseless (45) v North Cardiff Cosmos (40) [Senior Rivalry: 1-0]
Celtic Wolves (27) v Spinney Wanderers (16) [Senior Rivalry: 8-13]
The WaddiWallas (32) v Ireland Lions (13) [Senior Rivalry: 0-1]
Rebel Spinners (11) v Chesney Champions (1) [Senior Rivalry: 15-22]
kato xi (19) v Blazing Dragons Cricket Club (46) [Senior Rivalry: 0-0]
The Irish Super Giants (35) v Weston Super Mud CC (15) [Senior Rivalry: 0-4]
The Hurlutown Partnership (34) v kilkenny (18) [Senior Rivalry: 0-8]
Billericay Bluebirds (30) v The Cross Lances (41) [Senior Rivalry: 6-4]
Donna's Kebabs (3) v Barnsley St. Peter's (9) [Senior Rivalry: 36-10]
Ballingeary Lakers (5) v Jolly Boys Of Peckham (17) [Senior Rivalry: 6-8]
Alrewas All Saints (37) v Royal Eleven (23) [Senior Rivalry: 0-0]
Staindrop Lordies (28) v Dunbrody CC (42) [Senior Rivalry: 1-1]

Selected highlights
Rebel Spinners (11) v Chesney Champions (1)
The reigning champion's, the one and only Chesney Champions, path to the semi-finals is likely to consist of three testing games. Initially against #11 ranked Rebel Spinners, then likely against #13 Ireland Lions and then #16 Spinney Wanderers. The one-time MKMC winners, nine-time Irish One Day champions, nine-time Irish T20 champions and current Irish League Cup holders seem to be battling on two fronts: still in the Matt Krevs Memorial Cup and an unbeaten first chasing the T20 title. Will another cup win be on their radar? The question is "how Chezza will choose to shuffle the deck?" and so "which team will be selected to deal with the Spinners?"

The Irish Super Giants (35) v Weston Super Mud CC (15)
Last season's runner-up, Weston Super Mud CC, appear to have a straightforward first round match-up; but likely a stiffer test in the next round.

kato xi (19) v Blazing Dragons Cricket Club (46)
Again, kato xi would hope to progress to provide the Mud's opposition in round two.

Donna's Kebabs (3) v Barnsley St. Peter's (9)
The Kebabs are the other Irish team left in the Matt Krevs Memorial Cup. Runners-up in S59, they have another tough starter in facing long-standing rivals Barnsley St. Peter's. Will they fancy another tilt at the trophy? If so they will have another testing game if they get through this one likely possibly the team that beat them in that final, the Ballingeary Lakers.

Ballingeary Lakers (5) v Jolly Boys Of Peckham (17)
Season 59 winners will have to get by the Jolly Boys first. Who will be all smiles for at the end of the day.

Here are some other intriguing ties that may result in a close finish:

• All Leeds Aren't We (31) v Corleone (25)

• The New Originals (38) v Ella XI (44)

• Shaktar Senseless (45) v North Cardiff Cosmos (40)

Meeting Mr Miandad (29) v Applewood Crossing (7)
Finally our own Applewood Crossing have a favourable draw in the top quarter (it is random, I promise). So we hope that we may go deep into the competition. That should put the commentator's curse on it.

and off we go!

So how do you feel about your chances? Which players in your team should we be keeping an eye open for?

Good luck to everyone and off we jolly well go! Crackit.

Results
Woodlands CC 212-3 (20) v North Saxe 188-5 (20)
Meeting Mr Miandad 148-10 (18.2) v Applewood Crossing 225-3
The New Originals 136-8 (20) v Ella XI 137-4 (20)
All Leeds Aren't We 168-9 (20) v Corleone 171-5 (20)
Shaktar Senseless 196-3 (20) v North Cardiff Cosmos 170-7 (20)
Celtic Wolves 155-7 (20) v Spinney Wanderers 157-2 (13.4)
The WaddiWallas 137-7 (20) v Ireland Lions 215-2 (20)
Rebel Spinners 127-7 (20) v Chesney Champions 128-3 (16)
kato xi 116-2 (17) v Blazing Dragons Cricket Club 112-7 (20)
The Irish Super Giants 147-7 (20) v Weston Super Mud CC 150-2 (15.2)
The Hurlutown Partnership 175-6 (20) v kilkenny 176-3 (15.4)
Billericay Bluebirds 192-4 (20) v The Cross Lances 189-6 (20)
Donna's Kebabs 183-8 (20) v Barnsley St. Peter's 171-6 (20)
Ballingeary Lakers 148-8 (20) v Jolly Boys Of Peckham 149-4 (19.4)
Alrewas All Saints 179-6 (20) v Royal Eleven 198-5 (20)
Staindrop Lordies 167-5 (20) v Dunbrody CC 119-7 (20)

Trí chonair na héiginnteachta
Blame Google translate
As predicted, last year's champions and runners-up (Chesney Champions and Weston Super Mud CC) progressed along with kato xi and Donna's Kebabs but not the Ballingeary Lakers! They were defeated in one of the round's close games...

Ballingeary Lakers (5) v Jolly Boys Of Peckham (17)
Rahim (36), Rollock (44) and Meija (29*) helped construct a steady foundation for the Lakers that allowed Fairbairn (6) and Ata (8) to help rattle off 27 off the last two overs for a total of 148-8. Peckham's response always seemed to be a little behind the comparison until Bragg (55) launched Fairbairn for 17 runs before succumbing on the final ball of the 17th over. Keane (14 off 9) and Snell (66*) followed his example knocking 22 runs off the next two overs leaving just three runs to make of the last six balls. Snell hit the game clinching run and the upset of Division 1 opposition by the Division 3 side with two balls to spare.

The New Originals (38) v Ella XI (44)
Another surprise was sprung by actual newcomers Ella XI when the The New Originals failed to amass 8 runs off the final over. The New Originals looked to be comfortably ahead of the the required rate before Iftikhar trapped both Farrell and Solomon leg before in 14th over; then the game slowly slipped away from their grasp.

All Leeds Aren't We (31) v Corleone (25)
Ella XI will face Corleone who also won off the final ball against All Leeds Aren't We. Caulfield (55) and Gaekwad (59) gave "All Leeds" an excellent start with their opening stand of 117 before they both were run out in quick succession. With three overs left "Are We" were looking comfortable 165-3 when, first, Gadhia with two then Nandedkar with three wickets then Gadhia again with a wicket maiden restricted them to just three more runs.

Corleone built steadily to a grand finish. Needing 22 off the final two overs they scored 11 off the 19th; they then scored another 9 off the first five balls before Nandedkar hit the second ball he faced for the game winning four off the game's final ball.

Billericay Bluebirds (30) v The Cross Lances (41)
Billericay Bluebirds also clinched a win with a four off the final ball, but the comparison was very tight from the 13th over onwards. Scotton (56) and Akram (51) had kept the chase close but it was Gilchrist (24) and Rawle (25) added 44 to see the Bluebirds home. Earlier it had pretty much been "all my own work" by as Tom Cowan hit an unbeaten 111 for the Lances with early support from Moran (32) and Christie (18) but little else. Wrist spinner, Mac Kajwang ripped into his compatriots taking 4 wickets for 35.

Leaders
Golden pads, for most runs scored by a batter:

• 111 - Tom Cowan (The Cross Lances)

• 105 (56 balls) - Chamu Chifunyise (Royal Eleven)

• 105 (57 balls) - Matthew Hayden (Ireland Lions)

• 87 - Junior Ellis (Applewood Crossing)

• 86 (48 balls) - Gerry Cavenagh (Applewood Crossing)

• 86 (57 balls) - Joel Roles (Barnsley St. Peter's)

Golden cap, for most wickets taken by a bowler:

• 6-28 Shahnawaz Manchandani (rfm, Barnsley St. Peter's)

• 5-27 Smoky Marlboro (lf, Applewood Crossing)

• 4-35 Caymun Mac Kajwang (lws, Billericay Bluebirds)

• 3-7 Oliver Chimusasa (rws, Staindrop Lordies)

• 3-17 Bertram Corriette (lm, Weston Super Mud CC)

• 3 - eight other bowlers.

Golden gloves, for most dismissals involving the keeper:

• 3 (3c, 0st) - Innes Wyeth (Alrewas All Saints)

• 3 (3c, 0st) - Antonio Goggin (Applewood Crossing)

• 3 (2c, 1st) - Joshua Egan (Royal Eleven)

• 2 - five other keepers

[crackit]

Second Round
Note: Rankings used are as of the start of the season.

Draw
Woodlands CC (21) v v Applewood Crossing (7) [Senior Rivalry: 2-0]
Ella XI (44) v Corleone (25) [Senior Rivalry: 0-1]
Shaktar Senseless (45) v Spinney Wanderers (16) [Senior Rivalry: 7-9]
Ireland Lions (13)v Chesney Champions (1) [Senior Rivalry: 0-0]
kato xi (19) v Weston Super Mud CC (15) [Senior Rivalry: 5-5]
kilkenny (18) v Billericay Bluebirds (30) [Senior Rivalry: 22-15-1]
Donna's Kebabs (3) v Jolly Boys Of Peckham (17) [Senior Rivalry: 6-0]
Royal Eleven (23) v Staindrop Lordies (28) [Senior Rivalry: 1-0]

Selected highlights
kato xi (19) v Weston Super Mud CC (15)
There are very few obvious prospects for close games but this between these two tier two sides might just be one. The winner will likely face another Division 2 side, kilkenny, in the quarter finals.

Royal Eleven (23) v Staindrop Lordies (28)
There are two matches where the sides have met just once. Royal Eleven beat Staindrop Lordies by 7 wickets in Twenty20 2.2 and should likely win again if their win-loss record is anything to go by.

Ella XI (44) v Corleone (25)
These two met in round one of the Matt Krevs Memorial Cup in season 51 when Corleone beat Ella X1 by 7 wickets. They were subsequently beaten in round two.