Shauna Kavanagh won the toss and elected to field with a grassy wicket and cloud cover. Leinster would have to display a much higher level of cricket than that of the day before; and they did not disappoint. Niamh Conway opened the match with a maiden, leading to the first of the Yorkshire wickets when in the second over of the game, Leinster capitalised on pressure in the field and announced their intensions with a commanding run out from the captain Shauna Kavanagh-game on!

The Leinster bowlers gave a wonderful display of disciplined swing bowling, proving to many the hard work that had been completed during the winter and summer months. Jennifer Grey proved her skills with the ball with a tight opening spell of 0-19 off 4 overs; showing great control in line and length. Hannah de Burgh Whyte bowled a tight line and in a good partnership with Grey, resulting in two further run outs. Clodagh Conway again bowled good lines with 0-14 off 4 and displayed great intent with her threatening yorkers. With C. Conway building pressure from one end, it paved the way for Amy Kenealy to claim 4 wickets for 16 runs from her 4 overs. Amy bowled with great skill and discipline and reaped the benefits of the ongoing pressure built by the team effort on the field.

Kavanagh proved her maturity in the game with some match-winning decisions. The field settings were crucial in building pressure; and with the sweepers in Nikki Symmons, Amy Kenealy and Amanda Walker showing great pace and power on the boundary, they restricted Yorkshire to only 3 boundaries in their innings. The ring fielders also showed 100% commitment in stopping the singles; Laura Boylan effecting two run outs from point. This team effort gave the bowlers a chance to create some pressure which resulted in the Yorkshire batsmen gradually faltering in the middle; the prize being four team run outs; Yorkshire finishing with 75 all out in the 19th over.

With the ball seeming off the pitch and swinging in the air, Leinster took to the crease knowing that the total was going to be difficult. Kavanagh looked strong off the front foot before being run out off a free hit. Kenealy was then bowled first ball and with the score on 6 for 2 off 2 overs; it was now up to the players to prove that they had learnt their lesson from the previous day. Symmons came in at number 4 and immediately showed her intent with a powerful boundary strike through square leg from a no ball. However, just when herself and Walker were looking to steady the chase, Walker was bowled. This left Leinster 20 for 3 off 6. de Burgh Whyte came to the crease and herself and Symmons took on the task of rebuilding the Leinster innings. Both players placed the ball in order to rotate the strike and used their pace between the wickets to put pressure on the field; proving their game plan in playing the high percentage shots with low risk.

Gradually as the runs crept up and the partnership built, Yorkshire’s inexperience showed and Symmons was first to capitalise when after playing herself in, she hit 27 runs from only 19 balls. Together, herself and de Burgh Whyte created the first partnership of the day with Hannah showing great maturity; at first finding the gaps to rotate the strike and play herself in, before then capitalising with some beautiful pull shots, to finish with 20* from 23 balls. Meanwhile, Nikki showed great power square of the wicket and down the ground, eventually ending up on 41* from 38 balls including six boundaries, the girls reaching the total in the 15th over.

This game was a great improvement from the previous day as Leinster showed great character as both individuals and as a team. Their authority in the field was evident by the number of run outs built from both tight bowling and committed fielding. The early batting mirrored yesterdays start, but the incoming batters were able to apply themselves to the situation and consolidate by rotating the strike, therefore building a base to then capitalise upon with the boundary shots. All in all a great display of cricket and a commanding win.

Many thanks again to Civil Service for hosting the match and to the umpires and scorers.

Yorkshire U 17's 75 all out in 19 overs (A. Kenealy 4 for 16)

Leinster Development 76 for 3 in 14.2 overs (N. Symmons 41 n.o., H. de Burgh White 20 n.o.)

Leinster won by 7 wickets