Cork Harlequins Triumph Over Kerry in MCU Premier
Farmers Cross, Cork – May 5, 2024: Cork Harlequins secured a thrilling victory over County Kerry by 3 wickets in the MCU One-Day match played here today. Chasing a target of 219 runs set by Kerry, Cork Harlequins reached the finish line with 7 overs to spare.
Kerry’s Innings Falter After Strong Start
Earlier, Kerry opted to bat first after winning the toss. Their innings began brightly with Awais Saghir (29) and Qasim Butt (60) stitching together a 52-run opening partnership. However, the Kerry batting order fell apart soon after, with Zubair Hassan Khan (5/39) wreaking havoc with his pace bowling. Kerry eventually managed only 218 runs in their 50 overs, with Syed Owais Bacha (67) and Khuram Iqbal (28) being the other notable scorers.
Cork Harlequins Chase Down Target with Grit
In reply, Cork Harlequins’ chase got off to a shaky start as they lost their top three batsmen cheaply. However, a solid partnership between Qasim Butt and Shane Wosslo (44 not out) brought them back into contention. Butt struck a well-compiled 60 runs before being dismissed, while Wosslo anchored the innings with an unbeaten 44. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Cork Harlequins kept chipping away at the target and eventually crossed the finish line in the 43rd over.
Zubair Hassan Khan Deservedly Named Player of the Match
Zubair Hassan Khan’s outstanding bowling performance of 4 wickets for 36 runs was instrumental in restricting Kerry’s total. His spell included crucial breakthroughs at the top of the order, which put Kerry on the back foot. Harlequins Wosslo’s anchoring knock also deserve special credit for their team’s victory.
Scorecard Summary
The sun beat down on Farmers Cross as Kerry captain Nasir Ali opted to bat first. A confident Awais Saghir and the in-form Qasim Butt got their team off to a flying start, treating the Cork Harlequins bowlers with disdain. The scoreboard ticked merrily along, and the Kerry faithful roared with approval.
But just as Kerry looked poised for a big total, disaster struck. Zubair Hassan Khan, the fiery Cork paceman, was brought into the attack. His first delivery was a searing yorker that rattled Saghir’s timbers. The crowd fell silent. Khan wasn’t done yet. He steamed in, pace unwavering, and sent the next two batsmen packing with unplayable deliveries. The Kerry innings, once blossoming, lay in tatters.
Syed Owais Bacha and Khuram Iqbal tried to rebuild the innings, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. Khan continued to wreak havoc, his five-wicket haul silencing the Kerry supporters. Eventually, all ten Kerry wickets fell for a paltry 218 runs.
Cork Harlequins, needing 219 runs to win, began their chase cautiously. Their openers fell cheaply, and murmurs of doubt started to creep among their fans. But then came the heroics of Senan Jones. He played a patient and composed innings, anchoring the chase and bringing his team back into the game.
Jones found an indispensable ally in Wosslo. The duo forged a magnificent partnership that put Cork on the path to victory. They complemented each other beautifully, with Butt’s solidity providing the foundation and Wosslo’s aggression providing the impetus. They took calculated risks, punished loose delveries, and rotated the strike with ease. The partnership blossomed under the pressure, and the Kerry bowlers struggled to find a way through.
The tension on the field was palpable, with both sides knowing that the match hung in the balance.
In the end, it was Wosslo who saw his team over the line. He struck the winning runs with a booming six, sending the Cork supporters into raptures. The celebrations were wild, a fitting end to a thrilling encounter.
This result keeps Cork Harlequins in the hunt for the top spot in the MCU One-Day table, while Kerry will be looking to bounce back in their next match.
UCC Clonmel Clinch Close Victory over Cork County
United Cricket Clonmel secured a thrilling one-wicket victory over Cork County CC 4th XI in a low-scoring encounter of the Munster Cricket Union Division 3A match played at Lisronagh Castle Grounds on Saturday, 4th May 2024.
Cork County Collapse in Batting Innings
Cork County opted to bat first, but their innings never gained momentum. Jithu Cherian, the UCC Clonmel pace bowler, ripped through the top order, taking three wickets for just nine runs. Ashir Ali Jehangir chipped in with two wickets, while the spin duo of Abimon Kizhakkethottam and Libin Mathew shared wickets between them. Cork County were bundled out for a paltry 50 runs in 20.7 overs.
United Cricket Clonmel Chase Wobbles But Holds On
In reply, UCC Clonmel’s chase also stuttered. Openers William Quinn and Jithin John fell cheaply to leave them at 2-2. Narke and Shanmugam steadied the ship briefly before Libin Mathew ran riot with his spin bowling, taking a brilliant five-wicket haul for just six runs. At 37-8, the game seemed tilted in Cork County’s favour.
Renny Abraham and Abin Wijesinghe Stage Recovery
However, Renny Abraham (4 runs) and Ashan Wijesinghe (15 runs) showed some resistance with a 15-run partnership. Wijesinghe was trapped lbw by Muhammad Talha Mannan, but Abraham found another able partner in Abimon Kizhakkethottam. The duo added valuable runs before both fell to Mathew’s bowling.
Joy Takes UC Clonmel Over the Line
With three wickets remaining and 11 runs required, UCC Clonmel’s chase looked precarious. However, Joy and Renny Abraham held their nerve and guided their team home with a composed unbeaten partnership. Joy remained unbeaten on 9 runs, while Abraham saw his side over the line with a single off the last ball of the innings.
Nenagh CC 1st XI vs County Kerry CC 2nd XI Match Report
Nenagh CC 1st XI won by 137 runs
Nenagh CC 1st XI won the toss and elected to bat first. They made a strong start, with openers Aneesh Manoharan and Cinulal Varickatharappel putting on 31 runs for the first wicket. However, Manoharan was dismissed for 3 (4) by Imran Khan Pathan in the 11th over. Sreenivas Pockathara Maniappan and Varickatharappel continued to build the innings, adding another 50 runs for the second wicket. Varickatharappel was dismissed for 1 (12) by U Sheraz in the 18th over.
Naveen George and Pockathara Maniappan then took the score to 101 before George was dismissed for 4 (3) by Taimour Ahmad Chaudhary in the 25th over. Vishal Pathare and Pockathara Maniappan added a crucial 54 runs for the fifth wicket before Pathare was dismissed for 54 (38) by Chaudhary in the 44th over.
Pockathara Maniappan continued to score runs, reaching a well-deserved half-century before he was dismissed for 54 (38) by Pathan in the 44th over. Tony Kurian and Deekshith added another 61 runs for the seventh wicket before Kurian was dismissed for 61 (71) by Sheraz in the 29th over.
Deekshith was then joined by Roshan Patel, and the pair added 31 runs for the eighth wicket before Patel was dismissed for 9 (18) by Majid Yousaf in the 48th over. Vinobaji and Deekshith took Nenagh to 265/9 before Deekshith was dismissed for 16 (59) by Chaudhary in the 51st over. Vinobaji remained unbeaten on 34 (46).
County Kerry CC 2nd XI were set a target of 266 runs to win the match. They got off to a poor start, losing their first two wickets for 10 runs. Roshan Patel and Cinulal Varickatharappel were both dismissed for single figures by U Sheraz.
Tony Kurian and Deekshith then steadied the innings, adding 33 runs for the third wicket before Deekshith was dismissed for 16 (59) by Taimour Ahmad Chaudhary in the 15th over. Kurian continued to score runs, reaching a half-century before he was dismissed for 61 (71) by Majid Yousaf in the 29th over.
Vishal Pathare and Sreehari Vinobaji added 48 runs for the fifth wicket before Pathare was dismissed for 54 (38) by Yousaf in the 36th over. Vinobaji was then joined by Sreenivas Pockathara Maniappan, and the pair added 30 runs for the sixth wicket before Vinobaji was dismissed for 34 (46) by Sheraz in the 38th over.
Pockathara Maniappan was then dismissed for 30 (24) by Pathan in the 45th over, leaving County Kerry CC 2nd XI on 128/7. The remaining batsmen were unable to make an impact, and County Kerry CC 2nd XI were eventually bowled out for 128 in the 48th over.
U Sheraz was the pick of the Nenagh CC 1st XI bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 28 runs. Taimour Ahmad Chaudhary also took 3 wickets for 34 runs.
Conclusion
Nenagh CC 1st XI put in a strong all-round performance to win the match by 137 runs. They batted first and made 265/9, with Sreenivas Pockathara Maniappan and Tony Kurian top-scoring with 54 runs each. County Kerry CC 2nd XI were then bowled out for 128 in reply.
Midleton Cruise to Victory Against Clare
In a one-sided contest played at Townparks, Midleton CC secured a comfortable victory over Clare CC 2nd XI by 5 wickets in the Munster Cricket Union Division 2B match played on 5th May.
Clare CC 2nd XI opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, their decision backfired as their batting order crumbled against a disciplined bowling attack from Midleton. Openers Rafiqul Alam and Gugz Singh were dismissed cheaply by Nitin Patil. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with Avinash Nagarajan (24) and Muhammad Asad (0) being the only batsmen to show some resistance. Gurpreet Singh was the pick of the Midleton bowlers, picking up 3 wickets for just 14 runs. Clare were eventually bowled out for a paltry 91 runs in 27.7 overs.
Chasing a modest target, Midleton openers Hamza Farooq and Farrukh Fiaz started cautiously. However, Farooq was dismissed early by A Akbar. A 24-run partnership between Avinash Nagarajan and Muhammad Asad steadied the ship before both fell to Gurpreet Singh. Fiaz, at the other end, remained unbeaten on 42, guiding his team to victory in the 16th over. The win sees Midleton climb the points table in Division 2B, while Clare will be looking to bounce back in their next match.
