IP50 Inter-Provincial Cup (IP50) Men’s One Day Match | 22 August 2024 |The Mardyke, Cork
Northern Knights 174 | Munster Reds 176/7
Result: Munster Reds won by 3 wickets
Jeremy Bray’s Munster Reds had a clear mission at a damp Mardyke on Thursday- to redress the ledger following defeat by the Northern Knights in the IP20 fixture the day before. “We’re really looking forward to the IP50 match today. We’re still in with a real chance to win the title, so we’re hoping for a strong performance against a quality Knights outfit, and to give us momentum going into the last match of the season against the North West Warriors.” he said.
Bray highlighted the fact his own squad has been strengthened with the inclusion of David Delany. “We’re delighted with the addition of David, who originally began his IP cricket with the Munster Reds, and he will help bolster our batting lineup. Ali Frost is back as well, so we are hoping to be on the right side of the result today to carry us forward.”
Matt Reed, Head Groundsman at Cork County CC had been working overtime to ensure the match could go ahead after heavy overnight rain. And despite the inundation on the covers and infield, play commenced with only a brief delay to clear away the surface water.
At the toss, Reds Captain PJ Moor made the correct call, and immediately decided to put the visitors in. His decision was vindicated from the outset, with veteran international Paul Stirling being bowled in only the third over with the score on 16. Reds Seamer Liam McCarthy bowled a peach of a ball to kiss the very top off the off stump and send the bails cartwheeling into the air.
This began a procession of wickets. 1-16 became 2-21, 3-21, then 4-23. The watching crowd were stunned by the contrast to the fortunes of the Reds just 24 hours before, and the consistent call was ‘the boys are really up for it today.”
And so it continued- 5-36, 6-44, and 7-79 with the departure of Neill for 11. Ben Calitz clearly did not get the memo, as he stood and delivered, putting the Munster Reds bowling unit to the sword with an imperious 96 off 87 balls, with 10 fours and 3 massive sixes. The maximum that was lifted over the Eastern boundary was an immediate threat to air traffic, and was last seen heading into orbit. Third umpire McCully had no hesitation in bringing out the box of balls for an immediate replacement. When Calitz was finally dismissed by Liam McCarthy, there was a collective “aaah” from the spectators, who realised they had witnessed a great innings that was fully deserving on a century. Along with partner Robertson (29 from 45), the Knights closed their innings on 174 in the 33rd over, a score that looked highly unlikely only an hour before.
For the Munster Reds, Liam McCarthy was at the top of his game. In returning the impressive figures of 9.4-2-35-4, the Munster man started and finished what could have been a rout, had Ben Calitz not stood tall. The enigmatic Curtis Campher, fresh from his cricketing adventures in Canada, chipped in with 3 valuable wickets in a lively spell.
After the innings break, the Munster Reds openers Brandon Kruger and Mark Adrianatos strode to the crease to commence the chase. The partnership did not last long, as Kruger nicked off to a waiting Paul Stirling in the slips and trudged back the the clubhouse for 5. Campher followed soon after, and with the Reds score at 23-2, there were fears of a similar collapse to the one the Knights had experienced.
Captain PJ Moor added a solid 21 before being adjudged LBW off the bowling of Carmichael, which brought Ali Frost to the middle. In a 103 run partnership with Adrianatos, the pair took the Munster Reds to within touching distance of the target of 175. Both batters displayed great shot selection and determination in crafting their respective innings to take the team to the brink of victory. The introduction of Adair into the attack brought a late flurry of wickets and set the nerves of the crowd somewhat on edge. But when Metacalfe lofted the first ball of Robertson’s 10th over the boundary rope, the game was done. Reds win by 3 wickets. Adair returned the figures of 2-1-3-4, quite remarkable.
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