This Section B clash of promotion hopefuls Pembroke and champion hopefuls Railway Union had all the makings of an enthralling encounter.
Having won the toss and electing to bat Railway Union skipper Trent Johnston saw his openers put on 134 runs for the first wicket. The stand was only broken when Kenny Carroll was run out for 55 (78 balls) in the 31st over. He could have been out on 45 if Bill Whaley had of held on to a regulation catch at backward square leg, off the bowling of Andy Balbirnie. Tom Fisher the other opener maintained the 4 runs per over pace with stands of 19 for the 2nd wicket and 30 for the 3rd. He eventually went 4th wicket down in the 49th over with Railway Union on 231 having made a fine knock of 105 (81 balls), he was unfortunate not to carry his bat through the innings. His wicket was one of two that came in the second over of Emmet Whaley’s two over spell. Conor Mullen (29*) and some big hitting from Saab Ulla (14*) added 25 runs in 8 balls to see Railway Union to 257 – 5 off their 50 overs. For Pembroke, other than Emmet Whaley (2-12 off 2), the only other bowlers to take a wicket were Graeme McDonnell 1-46 and Andy Balbirnie 1-48
Pembroke’s run chase got off to a slow start as a result of some tight bowling from Trent Copeland and Trent Johnston, and it was the later who picked up the first wicket in the 12th over with the score on 39. Rick Francis then joined opener Jonathan Cooke and the two progressed the score to 108 in the 30th over when Francis was out caught in the deep by Garrett Carroll off the bowling of Simon Grehan. The match turned significantly in Railway’s favour as Conor Mullen took the wicket of Jonathan Cooke, as the opener went 3rd wicket down for 65 with the score on 153. Mullen followed this up with his second wicket and Pembroke’s 4th in his next over with the score on 164. The return of the two Trents for their second spells cleaned up the tail. Theo Lawson (30) the only Pembroke batsman to show any ability to cope with the twin attach before he went 9th wicket down with the score on 206. Eleven runs later Pembroke were all out for 217, 40 runs short. For Railway Union the Trents each returned a three for, Johnston 3-32 off 10 and Copeland 3-44 off 9.3, Mullen continued his fine form with the ball taking 2-35 off 6