Irish Youth League Cup – S61

[crackit]

Approximate timeline
19 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.

• 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: 20 March, all the teams on the Initial Invitation list below have been invited.
Update: 21 March, only one day has gone and 37 of the 64 teams invited have accepted (22/32; 12/16; 6/8).
This means we definitely have a competition; but can we make it to the full 64 for the first time?

2 April: All other teams from Youth 4 will be invited to take up any remaining places.
Update: 4 April, invitations sent to all the remaining teams in the Irish league setup. We still need 21 more acceptances before the deadline to make the full 64.

Update 16 April: The acceptance deadline has passed

• At the last count we had 48 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 23 April.

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

The Gaelic Pingers
Trinity
Western Suburbs Hacks
All Leeds Aren't We
Galway Gladiators CC
North Cardiff Cosmos
Insane Inglewood Posse
St Johns Athletic
Babylon5
Xessux Club
Blazing Dragons Cricket Club
North Saxe
FPCC Ireland
Aripal Qalandars
Zeugma Ferrets
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 Youth 4.2 144,680 Ella XI
2 Youth 1.1 136,338 The WaddiWallas
3 Youth 1.1 130,439 Spinney Wanderers
4 Youth 1.1 129,366 Hunslet Parkside C.C.
5 Youth 1.1 128,720 Vegas Venoms
6 Youth 1.1 128,670 Cork City Cobra's
7 Youth 2.1 127,262 Billericay Bluebirds
8 Youth 1.1 126,292 Alrewas All Saints
9 Youth 2.2 125,308 Justhititfor6
10 Youth 2.2 124,007 Meeting Mr Miandad
11 Youth 2.1 123,193 Staindrop Lordies
12 Youth 1.1 121,942 BTP's Altnaharra Athletic
13 Youth 2.1 120,644 Ballingeary Lakers
14 Youth 3.4 120,552 Applewood Crossing
15 Youth 2.1 120,519 Crzy Tornadoes
16 Youth 3.4 120,242 Royal Eleven
17 Youth 2.2 120,204 Corleone
18 Youth 3.1 119,515 Shaktar Senseless
19 Youth 1.1 119,461 Rebel Spinners
20 Youth 2.1 118,854 kato xi
21 Youth 2.1 118,812 The New Originals
22 Youth 3.4 117,498 Friendly Fiends
23 Youth 3.1 117,494 Chester Ducks
24 Youth 2.2 117,118 Chesney Champions
25 Youth 2.1 116,997 Blwe Scavengerz
26 Youth 3.2 116,636 Donna's Kebabs
27 Youth 3.3 116,448 Woodlands CC
28 Youth 2.2 116,093 kilkenny
29 Youth 2.1 114,859 Celtic Wolves
30 Youth 3.2 114,563 Save the Rhino
31 Youth 2.2 114,216 Dunbrody CC
32 Youth 2.2 113,150 The Hurlutown Partnership
33 Youth 3.2 112,227 Barnsley St. Peter's
34 Youth 3.3 111,148 The Cross Lances
35 Youth 3.1 110,843 The Irish Super Giants
36 Youth 3.3 110,352 Weston Super Mud CC
37 Youth 3.3 109,628 Belmont CC
38 Youth 3.3 109,477 Muggles Cricket Club
39 Youth 2.2 109,327 Aussie Battlers
40 Youth 4.7 108,770 Dublin Devils
41 Youth 3.1 108,136 The Gaelic Pingers
42 Youth 3.3 107,771 Trinity
43 Youth 4.3 107,041 Rocket City Trash Pandas
44 Youth 3.4 104,073 Western Suburbs Hacks
45 Youth 3.1 103,869 All Leeds Aren't We
46 Youth 3.4 103,725 Galway Gladiators CC
47 Youth 3.2 102,439 Spingleberry
48 Youth 3.1 102,418 North Cardiff Cosmos
49 Youth 3.2 100,783 Ireland Lions
50 Youth 3.4 100,594 Insane Inglewood Posse
51 Youth 3.2 99,437 The Dragon Warrior
52 Youth 4.6 97,068 Nordhorn CC
53 Youth 3.3 91,395 Me & My Buddies
54 Youth 3.1 90,412 Cicjose
55 Youth 3.2 90,098 Redcar CC
56 Youth 3.2 89,865 Shropshire CC
57 Youth 3.4 81,614 St Johns Athletic
58 Youth 4.4 78,976 Jolly Boys Of Peckham
59 Youth 4.1 78,079 Babylon5
60 Youth 4.5 77,884 Xessux Club
61 Youth 3.1 77,830 TheBezBrigade
62 Youth 3.4 77,405 Ogres
63 Youth 4.5 76,250 Blazing Dragons Cricket Club
64 Youth 3.3 75,593 North Saxe

[crackit]

Roll of Honour

Season 60:

• Winner: Spinney Wanderers

• Runner-up: Celtic Wolves

• Semi-finalists: Meeting Mr Miandad; Shaktar Senseless

Season 59:

• Winner: The WaddiWallas

• Runner-up: Spinney Wanderers

• Semi-finalists: kato xi; Royal Eleven

[crackit]

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

Draw
Royal Eleven (16) v The Hurlutown Partnership (32) [Youth Rivalry: 2-0]
Alrewas All Saints (8) v Shaktar Senseless (18) [Youth Rivalry: 1-1]
Staindrop Lordies (11) v Muggles Cricket Club (38) [Youth Rivalry: 1-1]
Ballingeary Lakers (13) v kato xi (20) [Youth Rivalry: 2-10]
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) v Blwe Scavengerz (25) [Youth Rivalry: 7-5]
Billericay Bluebirds (7) v Donna's Kebabs (26) [Youth Rivalry: 10-3]
Meeting Mr Miandad (10) v Vegas Venoms (5) [Youth Rivalry: 4-4]
The New Originals (21) v Celtic Wolves (29) [Youth Rivalry: 7-4]
Chester Ducks (23) v Applewood Crossing (14) [Youth Rivalry: 1-1]
Dublin Devils (40) v Rebel Spinners (19) [Youth Cup Rivalry: 0-1] / [Youth Rivalry: 0-6]
Weston Super Mud CC (36) v The WaddiWallas (2) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]
The Irish Super Giants (35) v Belmont CC (37) [Youth Rivalry: 3-1]
Barnsley St. Peter's (33) v Dunbrody CC (31) [Youth Rivalry: 4-7-1]
Spinney Wanderers (3) v Ella XI (1) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]
The Cross Lances (34) v BTP's Altnaharra Athletic (12) [Youth Rivalry: 4-4]
Corleone (17) v kilkenny (28) [Youth Rivalry: 6-9]

Highlights
Spinney Wanderers (3) v Ella XI (1)
Talk about the magic of the cup, the draw has thrown up an absolutely epic first round tie. So we have to start in the bottom quarter of the draw with a match-up that would have made for a great final. Defending champions, Spinney Wanderers, against the highest ranked team in the competition, Ella XI.

We are familiar with the two-time finalist, Spinney Wanderers; they currently lie first in Irish Youth 1.1 and second in Irish Youth T20 1.1. Despite their name they own an strong seam attack in Onesmus Ali, Kendrick Blair, and Robert Burton and a batting line-up that includes Jonty Traves, Suruj Gomes and their lone international Dane Rouse from Canada.

You may not be so familiar with Ella XI, who joined the Irish League setup this season; starting at the bottom in Division 4. But don't let that fool you, they are the number one ranked team in Ireland and have won two national One Day titles in Sri Lanka and adding the national T20 title last year. Unsurpringly, they have a 100% win rate this season and boast eight youth internationals including:

• Batters Nipen Matu (India), James Scott (Ireland) and Luis Barton (USA)

• South African allrounder Jacques Kops

• And a bowling attack including three Sri Lankans (Akila Yapa, Dharma Jagath and Kiribaba Ikram), and Okke Hoeben from the Netherlands.

The winner of this game will reasonably hope to reach the semi-finals and beyond, but either way expect to hear a lot more from the newcomers.

Barnsley St. Peter's (33) v Dunbrody CC (31)
The bottom quarter also includes another potentially tight game between two Division 3 sides.

Weston Super Mud CC (36) v The WaddiWallas (2)
The WaddiWallas, S60 winners, will also have strong hopes of reaching the semi-final with no other top ten side in their quarter.

The Irish Super Giants (35) v Belmont CC (37)
There is another close Division 3 match-up in this quarter too.

Meeting Mr Miandad (10) v Vegas Venoms (5)
The second quarter looks the toughest with four top ten ranked teams in the draw. Two of them meet in the first round. Hunslet Parkside C.C. and Billericay Bluebirds will also be vying for that last four spot.

The New Originals (21) v Celtic Wolves (29)
This is a nice second tier match-up as both have done well in this competition before: The New Originals made the quarters in season 60 and the Celtic Wolves were last year's runners up.

The top quarter looks highly competitive and therefore the most open. Alrewas All Saints as the only side from the top division will be favourite, but they are joined by four second tier sides; three of whom have made the semi-finals before: kato xi, Royal Eleven, and Shaktar Senseless. All four games here look appetising.

So who is your favourite to win? How do you feel about your chances?

Wishing good luck to all the teams in the draw. Cheers, Crackit.

Results
Royal Eleven 124-8 (20) v The Hurlutown Partnership 124-8 (20) - Royal Eleven win on autogenerated countback -
Alrewas All Saints 146-9 (20) v Shaktar Senseless 153-6 (20)
Staindrop Lordies 153-2 (16.4) v Muggles Cricket Club 152-8 (20)
Ballingeary Lakers 160-3 (20) v kato xi 176-2 (20)
Hunslet Parkside C.C. 129-3 (18.3) v Blwe Scavengerz 128-6 (20)
Billericay Bluebirds 140-3 (20) v Donna's Kebabs 116-10 (19.1)
Meeting Mr Miandad 147-6 (20) v Vegas Venoms 176-5 (20)
The New Originals 117-10 (18.2) v Celtic Wolves 66-10 (14.4)
Chester Ducks 131-3 (14.4) v Applewood Crossing 127-5 (20)
Dublin Devils 73-10 (18.5) v Rebel Spinners 74-3 (10.3)
Weston Super Mud CC 108-4 (20) v The WaddiWallas 109-2 (18-2)
The Irish Super Giants 144-10 (19.4) v Belmont CC 145-2 (14.4)
Barnsley St. Peter's 111-6 (20) v Dunbrody CC 112-4 (15.5)
Spinney Wanderers 151-6 (20) v Ella XI 181-3 (20)
The Cross Lances 150-4 (20) v BTP's Altnaharra Athletic 172-5 (20)
Corleone 165-4 (20) v kilkenny 166-1 (14.3)

Trí chonair na héiginnteachta
Blame Google translate
Catching up just before the second round tomorrow, firstly our selected previews:

• Number 1 ranked Ella XI comfortably beat defending champions, Spinney Wanderers; posing the question whether anyone can match the newcomers. Division 1 sides you have three seasons to prepare!

• Barnsley St. Peter's didn't run Dunbrody CC close.

• Nor did The Irish Super Giants run Belmont CC close.

• Vegas Venoms comfortably beat Meeting Mr Miandad and now play The New Originals who blew away the Celtic Wolves.

• At least we were right about the possibility of either Hunslet Parkside C.C. or Billericay Bluebirds contesting for a semi-final spot, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Royal Eleven v The Hurlutown Partnership
Unlike the Senior Cup, there was only one close finish; and it couldn't have been any closer. No really, it couldn't have been any closer.

Karim Salman was the game's top scorer with 40 (I misread it and thought he was run out by a train!) and Amandip Ogale the game's top wicket taker with three. Both ended up on the losing side because Royal Eleven were deemed highest cup seed in a cup without seeding. Sorry Zabolek, it makes no sense to me either.

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

• 94 - Eoin Murtagh (kato xi)

• 87 - Philip Beirne (The Cross Lances)

• 85 - Jacques Kops (Ella XI)

• 83 - Imrul Matin (kilkenny)

• 83 - Eugene Delaney (Ballingeary Lakers)

Golden cap, for most wickets taken by a bowler:

• 5-11 Navin Masmulla (lfs, The New Originals)

• 4-16 Marcas Gamble (rm, Celtic Wolves)

• 4-17 Dylan Lavers (rws, Billericay Bluebirds)

• 4-28 Abbas Alim (rm, Vegas Venoms)

• 3 - six other bowlers

Golden gloves, for most dismissals involving the keeper:

• 5 (5c, 0st) - Kushwant Jadav (The Hurlutown Partnership)

• 4 (3c, 1st) - Nishal Kevadiya (Royal Eleven)

• 3 - six other keepers

[crackit]

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

Draw
Royal Eleven (16) v Shaktar Senseless (18) [Youth Rivalry:2-0]
Staindrop Lordies (11) v kato xi (20) [Youth Rivalry: 0-1]
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) Billericay Bluebirds (7) [Youth Rivalry: 2-1]
Vegas Venoms (5) v The New Originals (21) [Youth Rivalry: 4-6]
Chester Ducks (23) v Rebel Spinners (19) [Youth Rivalry: 3-2-1]
The WaddiWallas (2) v Belmont CC (37) [Youth Rivalry: 1-3]
Dunbrody CC (31) v Ella XI (1) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]
BTP's Altnaharra Athletic (12) v kilkenny (28) [Youth Rivalry: 0-4]

Highlights
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) Billericay Bluebirds (7)
Some of the games in Round 2 look as if they might be close and none more so between these Youth Twenty20 1.1 rivals. Only run rate separates these two in the race to the title so lets hope the match doesn't disappoint.

Staindrop Lordies (11) v kato xi (20)
Talking of league rivals, how about these two from Youth 2.1? However, kato xi are well ahead in the table and won their earlier and only previous encounter this season.

BTP's Altnaharra Athletic (12) v kilkenny (28)
Finally, we tip Division 2 kilkenny to upset Division 1 BTP's Altnaharra Athletic (sorry laup16). The name Altnaharra is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Allt na h-Eirbhe, meaning Stream at the boundary wall; just in case you were wondering.

Results
Royal Eleven 134-8 (19.1) v Shaktar Senseless 133-7 (20)
Staindrop Lordies 133-2 (20) v kato xi 116-5 (20)
Hunslet Parkside C.C. 151-5 (20) v Billericay Bluebirds 150-2 (20)
Vegas Venoms 148-3 (20) v The New Originals 128-10 (19.2)
Chester Ducks 126-1 (14.2) v Rebel Spinners 123-7 (20)
The WaddiWallas 123-0 (11.3) v Belmont CC 120-7 (20)
Dunbrody CC 118-8 (20) v Ella XI 162-3 (20)
BTP's Altnaharra Athletic 179-3 (20) v kilkenny 180-2 (18.3)

Trí chonair na héiginnteachta
Blame Google translate
As predicted Hunslet Parkside C.C. v Billericay Bluebirds was close, so didn't disappoint; as predicted kilkenny to upset higher league opposition; and kato xi... what happened guys!

Hunslet Parkside C.C. v Billericay Bluebirds
It was close, so Billericay are probably regretting the slow start to their innings, only scoring 21 off the first five overs. Shahdat Amin (53*) joined keeper Rod Piper in the fifth over, but it was just after halfway when they picked up the pace to produce a third wicket partnership of 130 off 93; finishing with 150-2.

Despite Tsepo Mukahanana taking one for one in over one, Parkside soon got going and stayed comfortably ahead of the comparison until 13th over when things started to get a bit twitchy. Ray Baxter (53) top scored but was foolishly run out on a mis-field on the first ball of 19th still needing 15 runs. Raqibul Ali scored five off five before being runout off the final ball of the same over have nearly been run out the ball before. Squeaky bum time then. However, wrist-spinner Dylan Lavers couldn't prevent Kyle Flynn (32*) and Craig Hickey (4*) from scoring off every ball of the final over, but even then there was the drama of another missed "Yes!...No!...No!...Yes!" runout that Lavers fumbled. Hunslet secured the victory when Hickey cut the final ball through backward point for a comfortable two. They next face Vegas Venoms in an all Division 1 clash.

BTP's Altnaharra Athletic v kilkenny
Captain Achmed Zakayo did what great leaders do and led from the from the front with an undefeated 83 in knocking out top tier Athletic; Oswell Turner (53*) joined in for an unbroken partnership of 103. kilkenny next face the awesome looking Ella XI.

Chester Ducks v Rebel Spinners
Talking of upsets, Chester Ducks glided into the quarter finals with ease. The third division side made light work of the target their Division 1 opponents set, overhauling them in 14.2 overs. They have won their two games extremely comfortably, belying their status. They face Division 1 opposition again, in The WaddiWallas.

b]Royal Eleven v Shaktar Senseless[/b]
Division 3 Royal Eleven became the first team to make three successive quarter finals in an Irish Cup by beating Shaktar Senseless; well no, it was quite close really. Ross Fairbairn (33) and Neil Douglas (42*) helped Shaktar build a score of 133-7, Garcha McKenzie taking 3-28. Royal Eleven pushed ahead of the run rate when captain Fionn Tuohy and keeper Nishal Kevadiya came together for a fourth wicket partnership 29 off 22 balls. Then they further accelerated when Komol Zia and Lovemore Matore knocked off a quick 24 off 14 for seventh wicket. Despite regular fall of wickets they reached 134-8 with five balls in hand. Division 2 Staindrop Lordies next.

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

• 158 - Achmed Zakayo (kilkenny)

• 155 - Dillon Fitzsimons (Vegas Venoms)

• 147 - Gift Mire (Ireland Lions)

• 145 - Eoin Murtagh (kato xi)

• 138 - Hector Henderson (BTP's Altnaharra Athletic)

Golden cap, for most wickets taken by a bowler:

• 8-55 Abbas Alim (rm, Vegas Venoms)

• 6-48 Kiribaba Ikram (lf, Ella XI)

• 5-44 Navin Masmulla (lfs, The New Originals)

• 5-47 Dylan Lavers (rws, Billericay Bluebirds)

• 4-16 Marcas Gamble (rm, Celtic Wolves), plus eight other bowlers with 4 wickets.

Golden gloves, for most dismissals involving the keeper:

• 5 (5c, 0st) - Kushwant Jadav (The Hurlutown Partnership)

• 5 (4c, 1st) - Ranjit Pradeep (Ella XI)

• 5 (3c, 2st) - Watson Craig (Shaktar Senseless)

• 4 (3c, 1st) - Nishal Kevadiya (Royal Eleven)

• 3 - seven other keepers

[crackit]

Quarter Finals
Note: Rankings used are as of the start of the season.

Draw
Royal Eleven (16) v Staindrop Lordies (11) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) v Vegas Venoms (5) [Youth Rivalry: 5-13]
Chester Ducks (23) v The WaddiWallas (2) [Youth Rivalry: 0-2]
Ella XI (1) v kilkenny (28) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]

Highlights
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) v Vegas Venoms (5)
Clearly the match of the round, all but two of their previous 18 meetings have been in Division 1. Vegas have four national titles, Hunslet have been runners-up four times. Don't let their history lead you astray, this is a close call and the winner will be expecting to make the final.

Chester Ducks (23) v The WaddiWallas (2)
The Ducks are clearly better than their Division 3 status, their ranking is now #17 and they top both Youth 3.1 and Youth Twenty20 2.2. It's not a done deal but they could be in Division 1 next season. The WaddiWallas are another side used to winning titles, including this cup in season 59, but again this is a close call.

Royal Eleven (16) v Staindrop Lordies (11)
Having squeaked through in the first round the Division 3 Royal Eleven recorded a good win last time, the higher ranked Staindrop Lordies from Division 2 may just have the edge but yet again this could be a close call and another upset on the cards.

Ella XI (1) v kilkenny (28)
Let's be clear, Ella XI is only Division 4 because of their newcomer status. Theirs youth team is not just #1 ranked in Ireland but also #6 in the world. Despite overcoming two higher ranked teams in the previous rounds, this looks like one mountain too many for kilkenny (is that a limerick trying to emerge?).

Draw
Royal Eleven 88-9 (20) v Staindrop Lordies 118-6 (20)
Hunslet Parkside C.C. 178-3 (20) v Vegas Venoms 133-6 (20)
Chester Ducks 167-7 (20) v The WaddiWallas 129-7 (20)
Ella XI 162-2 (20) v kilkenny 151-2 (20)

Trí chonair na héiginnteachta
Blame Google translate
Coming soon...

"My lads have a lot of (non skilled) in-game talents that don't show on the match ratings so anyone else we might have a chance but they look pretty formidable."

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

• 195 - Gift Mire (Ireland Lions)

• 193 - Dillon Fitzsimons (Vegas Venoms)

• 176 - Imrul Matin (kilkenny)

• 173 - Malcolm Sartori (Chester Ducks)

• 168 - Ray Baxter (Hunslet Parkside C.C.)

Golden cap, for most wickets taken by a bowler:

• 8-96 Abbas Alim (rm, Vegas Venoms)

• 7-72 Komol Zia (rfs, Royal Eleven)

• 6-53 Alpesh Jada (lfm, Chester Ducks)

• 6-59 Kiribaba Ikram (lf, Ella XI)

• 6-95 Stumpy McStibb (rm, The WaddiWallas)

Golden gloves, for most dismissals involving the keeper:

• 5 (5c, 0st) - Kushwant Jadav (The Hurlutown Partnership)

• 5 (5c, 0st) - Dogo Kiribui (The WaddiWallas)

• 5 (4c, 1st) - Ranjit Pradeep (Ella XI)

• 5 (4c, 1st) - Nishal Kevadiya (Royal Eleven)

• 5 (3c, 2st) - Watson Craig (Shaktar Senseless)

• 5 (3c, 2st) - Dinny Taylor (Staindrop Lordies)

[Mike778]

Enjoyed this cup. Pity we have Elia in semis. My lads have a lot of (non skilled) ingame talents that dont show on the match ratings so anyone else we might have a chance but they look pretty formidable.

[crackit]

Semi Finals
Note: Rankings used are as of the start of the season.

Draw
Staindrop Lordies (11) v Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) [Youth Rivalry: ?-?]
Chester Ducks (23) v Ella XI (1)[Youth Rivalry: ?-?]

Highlights
Coming soon...

[crackit]

Quarter Finals
Note: Rankings used are as of the start of the season.

Draw
Royal Eleven (16) v Staindrop Lordies (11) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) v Vegas Venoms (5) [Youth Rivalry: 5-13]
Chester Ducks (23) v The WaddiWallas (2) [Youth Rivalry: 0-2]
Ella XI (1) v kilkenny (28) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]

Highlights
Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) v Vegas Venoms (5)
Clearly the match of the round, all but two of their previous 18 meetings have been in Division 1. Vegas have four national titles, Hunslet have been runners-up four times. Don't let their history lead you astray, this is a close call and the winner will be expecting to make the final.

Chester Ducks (23) v The WaddiWallas (2)
The Ducks are clearly better than their Division 3 status, their ranking is now #17 and they top both Youth 3.1 and Youth Twenty20 2.2. It's not a done deal but they could be in Division 1 next season. The WaddiWallas are another side used to winning titles, including this cup in season 59, but again this is a close call.

Royal Eleven (16) v Staindrop Lordies (11)
Having squeaked through in the first round the Division 3 Royal Eleven recorded a good win last time, the higher ranked Staindrop Lordies from Division 2 may just have the edge but yet again this could be a close call and another upset on the cards.

Ella XI (1) v kilkenny (28)
Let's be clear, Ella XI is only Division 4 because of their newcomer status. Theirs youth team is not just #1 ranked in Ireland but also #6 in the world. Despite overcoming two higher ranked teams in the previous rounds, this looks like one mountain too many for kilkenny (is that a limerick trying to emerge?).

Draw
Royal Eleven 88-9 (20) v Staindrop Lordies 118-6 (20)
Hunslet Parkside C.C. 178-3 (20) v Vegas Venoms 133-6 (20)
Chester Ducks 167-7 (20) v The WaddiWallas 129-7 (20)
Ella XI 162-2 (20) v kilkenny 151-2 (20)

Trí chonair na héiginnteachta
Blame Google translate
Ella XI (1) v kilkenny (28)
Well what do I know? None of the three games I predicted to be close were, and whilst kilkenny lost they put up a great effort against the favourites, Ella XI; tracking close to the required run rate and falling short by just 11 runs. It was Ella's burst of 32 runs off the final three overs that kilkenny couldn't match.

Royal Eleven (16) v Staindrop Lordies (11)
The Royals never recovered from being 4-2 after the first four overs bowled between Riddhiman Iyer and Tshepo Matsikenyeri. Staindrop Lordies won by 30 runs.

Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) v Vegas Venoms (5)
Although looking close for most of the innings again it was a three over burst of 50 (yes fifty) at the end of their innings which led to Hunslet winning by 45 runs. Ray Baxter (48*) and Kyle Flynn (32*) sledgehammering the final nail into the Vegas coffin.

Chester Ducks (23) v The WaddiWallas (2)
Talking of being brutal, there was no way back after The WaddiWallas found themselves five wickets down after seven overs. Stumpy McStibb had taken 4 Ducks wickets for 36 runs, with only Malcolm Sartori making a half-century; but this proved enough for a very comfortable win from a long way out. Chester Ducks won by 38 runs.

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

• 195 - Gift Mire (Ireland Lions)

• 193 - Dillon Fitzsimons (Vegas Venoms)

• 176 - Imrul Matin (kilkenny)

• 173 - Malcolm Sartori (Chester Ducks)

• 168 - Ray Baxter (Hunslet Parkside C.C.)

Golden cap, for most wickets taken by a bowler:

• 8-96 Abbas Alim (rm, Vegas Venoms)

• 7-72 Komol Zia (rfs, Royal Eleven)

• 6-53 Alpesh Jada (lfm, Chester Ducks)

• 6-59 Kiribaba Ikram (lf, Ella XI)

• 6-95 Stumpy McStibb (rm, The WaddiWallas)

Golden gloves, for most dismissals involving the keeper:

• 5 (5c, 0st) - Kushwant Jadav (The Hurlutown Partnership)

• 5 (5c, 0st) - Dogo Kiribui (The WaddiWallas)

• 5 (4c, 1st) - Ranjit Pradeep (Ella XI)

• 5 (4c, 1st) - Nishal Kevadiya (Royal Eleven)

• 5 (3c, 2st) - Watson Craig (Shaktar Senseless)

• 5 (3c, 2st) - Dinny Taylor (Staindrop Lordies)

[crackit]

Semi Finals
Note: Rankings used are as of the start of the season.

Draw
Staindrop Lordies (11) v Hunslet Parkside C.C. (4) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]
Chester Ducks (23) v Ella XI (1) [Youth Rivalry: 0-0]

Highlights
Astonishingly we have teams from all four tiers. We have no history of games between the clubs, I give you:

• Division 1: Hunslet Parkside C.C.

• Joined in season 42

• Currently ranked #7 in One Day and #5 in Twenty20

• Once runners-up and once third in Youth 1.1, once third

• Three times runners-up and once third in Youth Twenty20 1.1

• Division 2: Staindrop Lordies

• Joined in season 32

• Once national winners of the Youth One Day title and once the Youth Twenty20 in England

• Once national runner-up in the Youth One Day, and three times runner-up the Youth Twenty20, league in England

• Transferred from England to Ireland season 59

• Currently ranked #19 in One Day and #15 in Twenty20

• Season 59: 1st in Youth 4.5 and Youth Twenty20 4.7

• Season 60: 1st in Youth 3.2 and 2nd Youth Twenty20 3.2

• Division 3: Chester Ducks

• Joined in season 52

• Currently ranked #11 in One Day and #9 in Twenty20

• Season 56: 1st in Youth 4.2 and 2nd Youth Twenty20 4.5

• Season 56: 1st in Youth 4.6 and 2nd Youth Twenty20 4.3

• Season 58: 1st in Youth 3.4 and 2nd Youth Twenty20 3.4

• Division 4: Ella XI

• Joined in season 39

• Transferred from England to Ireland season 61

• Currently ranked #1 in Ireland and #6 in the world for both One Day and Twenty20

• Twice national winners of the Youth One Day title and once the Youth Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

• No honours in the Irish League... yet

Staindrop and Ella are on different points of the same journey, they have strengthened the youth competition in Ireland.

As mentioned previously, the bar has been set higher and this sets a challenge to the top youth teams in Ireland. Hopefully it will be one they embrace and they can up their game over the next three seasons. If so, there may also an opportunity (assuming Irish youth pulls) to strengthen the Irish national youth team and so eventually the seniors.

Lets continue to make this a league and a community to be proud of. Good luck, have fun and be successful, in whatever form that takes for you. I am just happy to be here.

Cheers

Crackit