The ground staff did a great job to get the ground playable. The pitch was inevitably damp but this created some very interesting seam movement.  Anton Scholtz won a good toss and inserted the visitors.  Will Lennon got Fintan McAllister in the first over and Rush dived to 36-3.  After being dropped in single figures, Lionel Jansen dug in and, with good support from Tipu Gull (29), took the score to 123 before falling on 70 to a tired-looking shot to a Mark Jones special.  Mass suicide ensued and the innings ended on 145, the last 7 wickets having fallen for a mere 22.  Skipper Scholtz led the bowling with 6-31 off 9 overs: good steady spinning which gave the batsmen every opportunity to get themselves out.  Keely Todd took 2-23 off his 10.

Leinster only had to use their brains to achieve a much-needed victory, and they did just that.  The first wicket put on 55 (Craig Mallon 39 and Jason Molins 33) and so laid just the foundation needed by the home side.  A few wobbles in the middle, but a fine 39 n.o. by Ian O’Herlihy provided the required anchor and Leinster made it after losing only 4 wickets.  A good victory, with no fireworks: just sensible, grafting batting with the occasional boundary.  Nazeer Shaukat was the most successful of the Rush bowlers, getting 2-24.