MCU Sports Hub Senior Cup Final: County Galway CC 1st XI vs Limerick CC 1st XI (2 August 2026)
County Galway CC 1st XI claimed the Sports Hub Senior Cup with a 15-run win over Limerick CC 1st XI at The Richard Beamish Cricket Grounds in Cork. In a rain-delayed match reduced to 44 overs per side, Galway successfully defended a low total through a disciplined bowling performance.
First Innings: County Galway CC 1st XI
Having won the toss and elected to bat, County Galway CC 1st XI encountered early trouble, falling to 5/2 inside four overs. Middle-order contributions from SR Lella (22 off 35) and B Faanakazi (20 off 11, including three 4s and one 6) helped steady the innings. Late-order resistance from J Juneja (18) and S Subramanian (17*) pushed Galway’s total to 127 before they were bowled out in 35.1 overs. Extras added 22 runs to the tally.
Limerick CC delivered an economical bowling effort to restrict Galway:
- Ramoji Alla: 2 wickets for 18 runs in 8 overs (2 maidens)
- Anvesh Bogavelly: 2 wickets for 23 runs in 9 overs (3 maidens)
- Prasad Hegde: 2 wickets for 27 runs in 9 overs (1 maiden)
- Sumukh Venkatesh: 1 wicket for 0 runs in 1.1 overs (1 maiden)
- M Sharma: 1 wicket for 45 runs in 5 overs
Second Innings: Limerick CC 1st XI
Chasing 128 for victory, Limerick CC 1st XI were bowled out for 112 in 32 overs. Opener Bharat Dahima top-scored for Limerick with 22 off 53 balls, while J Potgieter remained unbeaten on 16. M Sharma and Prasad Hegde each added 14 runs in the lower order, but constant wickets prevented Limerick from building sustained partnerships.
Galway used just four bowlers, all of whom delivered key strikes to secure the win:
- B Faanakazi: 3 wickets for 21 runs in 9 overs (2 maidens)
- S Singh: 3 wickets for 35 runs in 8 overs
- J Juneja: 2 wickets for 23 runs in 8 overs
- K Mehmood: 2 wickets for 26 runs in 7 overs
- Match Result: County Galway CC 1st XI won by 15 runs to win the MCU Sports Hub Senior Cup.
Hero of the Match B Faanakazi is named hero of the match for his match-defining all-round performance. His quickfire 20 off 11 balls shifted momentum in the first innings, and his decisive spell of 3/21 in 9 overs—including taking the final wicket—sealed the title for County Galway. Honorable mentions go to S Singh (3/35) and Ramoji Alla (2/18).
