Arachas Super 50 Cup | Kavanagh, Maguire star as Scorchers nullify Dragons' fightback

The Scorchers scripted a sensational one-wicket win against the Dragons in the Arachas Super 50 Cup fixture between the two North County Cricket Club teams.

Chasing 149 runs, the Scorchers' innings faced several roadblocks, starting with an early dismissal in the form of their opener Rachel Delany, who perished within the first over. Then, while Siúin Woods looked sharp during her brief stay, a nervy run caught him off guard as the Scorchers reeled at 45/2 after losing their opening batters.

Anna Kerrison, who looked set for a big score, played a false stroke and edged behind. However, although Shauna Kavanagh was going smoothly at one end, she started to fall short of partners with the Women in Orange, continuing to lose wickets at regular intervals.

Sophie MacMahon seemed brisk, scoring 23-ball 21, but her dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse as the Scorchers were reduced to 146/9 from 97/3. A middle-overs special from the Dragons' bowlers led a valiant fightback, but with Kavanagh still at the crease, it became the case of too little, too late for them.

Tailender Aimee Maguire played a cut-shot for a single and did the jailbreak to add a thrilling win into her team's bag. But Kavanagh's 45-ball 45 paved the path for Scorchers' one-wicket victory.

Earlier, the Dragons were put to bat by the Scorchers during the toss. The 57-run in the 10th wicket stand between Mollie Devine and Kate McEvoy saved the day for them as, at one stage, their batting troubles had forced them out of the game with their first nine batters just adding 91 runs. 

Captain Leah Paul, who played down the leg side and handed down the Scorchers wicket-keeper Kavanagh a straight-forward catch, went for a duck. It was two in two for Jane Maguire as Amy Hunter as well departed without troubling the scorers.

The other opener Sarah Forbes too, could not infuse much confidence and accumulated only 12 runs in the game.

While the middle-order also failed in delivering the goods and added to the Dragons' woes, tailenders Devine and McEvoy performed a rescue act, this time not with their usual duties, and recorded a 57-run partnership for the last wicket to take the Dragons' total to 148.

Brief scores:

Dragons - 148/10 (43)

Mollie Devine 27(61), Kate McEvoy 23*(48);

Jane Maguire 3-20 (9), Rachel Delaney 2-19 (8)

Scorchers - 149/9 (35.2)

Shauna Kavanagh 45* (45), Anna Kerrison 25(51);

Orla Prendergast 2-13 (6), Alan Dalzell 1-20 (3)

Scorchers won by one wicket.