Reduced Matches Due to Weather
The opening week of the Munster Cricket Union season saw a limited schedule due to poor weather conditions leading into week 1 impacting the preparation of pitches across the region. Only two games were played in Division1 and Division 2 A.
Division 1
UCC Falter Against Determined Limerick Blasters in MCU Division 1 Clash
UCC crashed to a narrow 3-wicket defeat against Limerick Blasters in a thrilling encounter of the MCU Division 1 played at The Farm, Curraheen, Cork on April 20th, 2024.
UCC were bowled out for a meagre 147 runs despite a valiant half-century from C. Mahajan (50 runs off 34 balls). The top order failed to fire, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Only Mahajan showed some resistance, stitching together a crucial 50-run partnership with Smit S. (9 runs) for the seventh wicket.
Limerick Blasters, in reply, chased down the target with 7 overs to spare. Openers faltered early, but a solid third-wicket partnership between Sindo Puthur Devassy (50 runs off 59 balls) and Rahul Poulose (11 runs off 30 balls) steadied the ship. Devassy continued his good touch, anchoring the chase with a well-composed fifty. Even though wickets continued to fall, Limerick Blasters never lost control, eventually reaching the target with 3 wickets remaining.
Turning Point:
The 50-run stand between C. Mahajan and Smit S. for UCC provided a glimmer of hope, but the lack of substantial contributions from other batsmen proved costly. For Limerick Blasters, the crucial third-wicket partnership between Devassy and Poulose put them in a commanding position.
Hero of the Match:
Sindo Puthur Devassy’s composed fifty for Limerick Blasters was instrumental in their victory.
Looking Ahead:
This loss will be a setback for UCC, who will need to regroup and find a way to score more consistently. Limerick Blasters, on the other hand, will be buoyed by this win and will look to build on their momentum in their upcoming matches.
Division 2A
Nenagh CC 2nd XI Triumphs Over United Cricket Clonmel 1st XI in a Close Encounter
Nenagh CC 2nd XI edged past United Cricket Clonmel 1st XI by a narrow 5-wicket margin in a thrilling MCU Division 2 A match played at Lisronagh Castle Grounds, Clonmel on April 21st, 2024.
United Cricket Clonmel, opting to bat first, were dismissed for 136 runs. Their innings was marred by regular wickets, with only Babar Ali (29 runs) and Henry Michael (31 runs) offering some resistance. Nenagh bowlers were disciplined, with Sarath Divakaran, Philip Samson Francis, and Shoaib Khan each claiming two wickets.
In reply, Nenagh CC 2nd XI chased down the target with 5 wickets remaining. Vimal John Mathai (27 runs) and Sri Teja (33 runs) set the tone with a crucial partnership, while Bharath Kumar Keerthipati (10 runs) chipped in with a valuable contribution. United Cricket Clonmel bowlers tried their best, but Nenagh batsmen held their nerve to secure victory.
Match Heroes:
Sarath Divakaran (2 wickets for 15 runs) and Philip Samson Francis (2 wickets for 29 runs) were the pick of the Nenagh bowlers.
Vimal John Mathai (27 runs) and Sri Teja (33 runs) played crucial knocks for Nenagh in the chase.
Looking Ahead:
United Cricket Clonmel will need to regroup and address their batting woes in their upcoming matches. Nenagh CC 2nd XI, on the other hand, will be looking to build on this momentum and continue their winning streak.
