Welcome to our first match reviews of the new season! We aim to showcase 5 matches for each round, bringing you all of action and colour of cricket across the clubs of the MCU.
Match Report: United Cricket Clonmel 1st XI vs. Waterford & District CC 1st XI
Competition: MCU Division 3 – One Day 40 Overs (Week 1) Venue: Lisronagh Castle Grounds, Clonmel Result: United Cricket Clonmel won by 168 runs
First Innings: Clonmel Set a Towering Target
United Cricket Clonmel started their MCU Division 3 campaign with a powerful batting display, posting 270/7 in their allotted 40 overs.
The innings was built on the foundation of a rapid opening partnership. Muhammad Arbaz Amjad Kushar was the primary aggressor, smashing 62 runs off just 44 balls, including several towering sixes off the bowling of Benjamin Martin and PS Francis. His opening partner, Shoaib Khan, played the anchor role to perfection, recording a vital half-century (54 off 102 balls) to ensure the middle order had a platform to explode.
Despite a mid-innings flurry of wickets from Waterford’s Benjamin Martin, who finished as the pick of the bowlers with a hard-fought haul, Clonmel’s lower order kept the momentum. Robin Raj (20 off 12) and Subeesh Velappan (17 off 15) provided quick runs before Babar Ali and Ahmad Qamar added late fireworks. Qamar remained unbeaten as the team finished on a high, setting a target that required nearly 7 runs per over.
Second Innings: Waterford Struggle Under Pressure
Waterford & District CC’s chase never truly gained momentum as the Clonmel bowling attack applied pressure from the very first over. Ahmad Qamar struck early, removing R Khalily for 6. Shoaib Khan then capped off his brilliant day by dismissing Sourav Ganguly cheaply, leaving Waterford reeling at 11/2.
A fighting partnership between Zubair Shahid (33 off 55) and PS Francis (20 off 34) offered a brief glimmer of hope for the visitors. However, the introduction of Vinayak Nayak and Babar Ali dismantled any hopes of a comeback. Nayak was particularly clinical, dismantling the lower order with a three-wicket burst, including the wickets of Zubair Shahid and Barathi Krishnan Jayakrishnan Prema.
M Imamuddin cleaned up the tail with two quick wickets in the 26th over, and Nayak returned to take the final wicket of Satish Muddar, bowling Waterford out for 102.
Hero of the Match: Shoaib Khan
While several players had standout performances, Shoaib Khan is the hero of the match. He demonstrated elite all-round capability by scoring a crucial 54 runs to stabilize the first innings and then returning with the ball to take 1 wicket and maintain a stifling economy rate, effectively shutting the door on the Waterford chase.
Summary of Scores
- United Cricket Clonmel: 270/7 (40 Overs)
- Muhammad Arbaz Amjad Kushar: 62 (44)
- Shoaib Khan: 54 (102)
- Waterford & District CC: 102 All Out (26.1 Overs)
- Zubair Shahid: 33 (55)
- Vinayak Nayak: 3 Wickets
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Match Report: Waterford Vikings 2nd XI vs. Nenagh CC 4th XI
Competition: MCU Division 5 – One Day 40 Overs (Week 1) Venue: Gracedieu West, Waterford Result: Waterford Vikings 2nd XI won by 6 wickets
First Innings: Vikings Bowlers Stifle Nenagh
Waterford Vikings 2nd XI opened their season with a clinical bowling performance, dismissing Nenagh CC 4th XI for just 66 runs.
The tone was set in the very first over when B Joseph struck, removing Aneesh Oomman for a duck. Nenagh struggled to build partnerships as the Vikings’ attack remained relentless. Jerry Joseph and Shan Thomas both fell to run-outs, the latter involving sharp work from Kamal Omanakuttan, leaving Nenagh in early trouble.
Joby Johny showed significant resistance, weathering 47 balls for his 11 runs, while Abhilash Ramachandran provided the only real late-innings spark with a quick 12, including a six off Dipu Mathai. However, L Joy proved to be the undoing of the middle and lower order, claiming three vital wickets, including those of Joby Johny and Binu Joseph. G Annamma and B Joseph combined to clean up the tail, with B Joseph finishing the innings by trapping Vivek Sebastian lbw.
Second Innings: Vikings Cruise to Victory
Chasing a modest target of 67, the Waterford Vikings’ openers started aggressively. Anil Davis led the charge with 17 runs off 24 balls, including two sixes, before a mix-up led to him being run out by Abhilash Ramachandran.
Nenagh’s Vivek Sebastian attempted to claw his side back into the game, bowling with great heart to claim the wickets of A Joseph and Lijo Augustine. When Tinu John bowled T Thomas, the Vikings sat at 58/4, but the result was never truly in doubt.
L Joy remained composed at the crease, ensuring no further collapses occurred. The match was sealed in emphatic style by G Annamma, who smashed a six off Tinu John in the 14th over to secure the six-wicket victory and the full complement of points for the home side.
Hero of the Match: L Joy
L Joy was the standout performer for the Waterford Vikings. His disciplined bowling was the backbone of the first innings, where he claimed 3 wickets to break the back of the Nenagh batting lineup. He then returned with the bat to stay unbeaten, guiding his team through a slight mid-order wobble to ensure a successful chase.
Summary of Scores
- Nenagh CC 4th XI: 66 All Out (24.4 Overs)
- Abhilash Ramachandran: 12 (14)
- Joby Johny: 11 (47)
- L Joy: 3 Wickets
- Waterford Vikings 2nd XI: 68/4 (13.3 Overs)
- Anil Davis: 17 (24)
- Vivek Sebastian: 2 Wickets
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Match Report: Midleton CC 2nd XI vs. Limerick CC 2nd XI
Competition: MCU Division 1 – One Day 45 Overs (Week 1) Venue: The Manor Fields Adare, Adare Date: 18 April 2026 Result: Midleton CC 2nd XI won by 15 runs
First Innings: Midleton Post Defensible Total
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Limerick CC 2nd XI found early success on a disciplined line. Midleton’s top order struggled to settle, with Naman Gandhi, Jigar Vyas, and Adeel Rafi Ahmed all dismissed for single figures. Sunny Dhiver provided necessary stability, occupying the crease for 55 balls for his 15 runs, but the primary impetus came from wicketkeeper Balaji Suresh.
Suresh top-scored with 32 runs from 43 deliveries, anchoring the middle order. He was supported by Christian Laubscher, who added a brisk 17. However, the standout performer with the ball was Limerick’s Ramoji Alla, who dismantled the tail to finish with figures of 4 for 18 in 6 overs. Despite the batting collapses, Midleton benefited significantly from 56 extras, allowing them to reach a total of 153 all out in 35 overs.
Second Innings: Limerick Fall Short in Close Chase
The Limerick chase began with a solid foundation, largely thanks to opening wicketkeeper Nishant Kumar, who struck 42 runs from 56 balls, and captain Waqas Mehmood, who contributed 31. At 100/2, Limerick appeared to be in control of the match.
The momentum shifted dramatically due to a clinical spell from Midleton’s MUHAMMAD ALI. He triggered a middle-order collapse, taking 4 wickets for just 21 runs. Limerick lost four wickets for the addition of only 10 runs, moving from a comfortable position to 110/6. Parth Borghare attempted to revive the innings with a spirited 23, including a six, but the support from the lower order was insufficient. Jigar Vyas and Christian Laubscher picked up two wickets each to ensure Limerick were bowled out for 138, falling 15 runs short of the target.
Hero of the Match: MUHAMMAD ALI
The hero of the match is MUHAMMAD ALI. His bowling performance was the decisive factor in the second innings. By claiming 4 for 21 and breaking the century partnership between Nishant Kumar and Waqas Mehmood, he successfully defended a modest total and secured the victory for Midleton CC 2nd XI.
Summary of Scores
- Midleton CC 2nd XI: 153 All Out (35 Overs)
- Balaji Suresh: 32 (43)
- Ramoji Alla: 4/18 (6 Overs)
- Limerick CC 2nd XI: 138 All Out (31 Overs)
- Nishant Kumar: 42 (56)
- MUHAMMAD ALI: 4/21 (7 Overs)
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Match Report: Cork Harlequins CC 1st XI vs. Midleton CC 1st XI
Competition: MCU Premier – One Day 50 Overs (Week 1) Venue: Farmers Cross, Cork Result: Cork Harlequins CC won by 6 wickets
First Innings: Midleton Stumble Against Precise Bowling
Midleton CC’s opening game of the MCU Premier season proved difficult as they were dismissed for a total of 98. The innings began under heavy pressure from the Cork Harlequins attack, specifically Seanan Jones, who delivered a masterclass in opening bowling.
Jones tore through the Midleton top and middle order, claiming five wickets in a devastating spell. He dismissed Muhammad Shabir (9), Ibraheem Raja (11), Faraz ur rehman Sharif, Murad Rasheed, and Atif Jameel to leave the visitors reeling. Mustak Mardan provided excellent support from the other end, removing Zuhair Shah early to keep the momentum with the Harlequins.
Midleton’s only significant resistance came from Andrew Beyrooti, who played a lone hand with a gritty 47 off 61 balls, including two sixes. He found a temporary partner in Robin Sebastian (11), and the pair looked to stabilize the innings. However, Seneth Sumanasinghe broke the stand and proceeded to clean up the tail, finishing with three wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Beyrooti, as Midleton fell short of the hundred-mark. Quins ‘keeper Shivam Kislay set a high bar for the season with 5 quality catches behind the stumps!
Second Innings: Harlequins Chase with Composure
Defending a low total, Midleton struck early to keep the contest alive. Andrew Beyrooti capped off a fine individual day by removing Shivam Kislay for 12, while Anoop Sasidharan Pillai dismissed Callum Stevenson to leave the Harlequins at 17/2.
Despite the early wobbles, Sidharth Pushp (19) and D Joyce (14) stabilized the chase with a patient partnership. Midleton’s bowlers, including Danish Iqbal and H Safi, managed to pick up further wickets to reduce the hosts to 61/4, but they could not find a way past the lower order.
Seanan Jones proved to be just as effective with the bat as he was with the ball. Joining Kieran O’Reilly at the crease, Jones struck a quick-fire unbeaten cameo, including a massive six off Muhammad Shabir, to hurry the Harlequins toward the target. In the 25th over, O’Reilly took a single off Atif Jameel to secure a comfortable six-wicket victory for the home side.
Hero of the Match: Seanan Jones
Seanan Jones is the undisputed hero of the match. His exceptional bowling figures, which included a five-wicket haul, effectively decided the game in the first innings. He then returned to show his all-round value by remaining 20 not out during the chase, ensuring there were no late dramas for Cork Harlequins.
Summary of Scores
- Midleton CC 1st XI: 98 All Out (26.5 Overs)
- Andrew Beyrooti: 47 (61)
- Seanan Jones: 5 Wickets
- Cork Harlequins CC 1st XI: 99/4 (24.1 Overs)
- Sidharth Pushp: 19 (39)
- Seanan Jones: 20*
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Match Report: United Cricket Clonmel 2nd XI vs. Lismore CC 2nd XI
Competition: MCU Division 4 – One Day 40 Overs (Week 1) Venue: Castlelands Cricket Ground, Lismore, Waterford Date: 19 April 2026 Result: United Cricket Clonmel 2nd XI won by 10 wickets
First Innings: Clonmel Bowlers Dominate at Castlelands
United Cricket Clonmel 2nd XI won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that yielded immediate results. Lismore CC 2nd XI struggled to establish partnerships against a disciplined Clonmel attack and were eventually dismissed for 86 in exactly 20 overs.
Miguel Carolino provided the only sustained resistance for the home side, scoring 31 runs, which included one boundary and three sixes. He was supported briefly by wicketkeeper Vins Jose, who contributed 13. However, the Lismore lineup had no answer for Kapil Jawandha, who disrupted the top order with figures of 3 for 15. The pressure was maintained by Deepak Gopinath, who delivered a clinical spell to clean up the lower order, finishing with 4 wickets for just 5 runs in 4 overs. D Toms, Henry Michael, and O Abraham each claimed a single wicket to complete the dismissal. A big shout out to 14 year old debutante Oisín Renny Abraham, who claimed a wicket in his first ever adult match. Well done Oisín!
Second Innings: Comprehensive Chase by Clonmel Openers
The chase was handled with efficiency by the United Cricket Clonmel 2nd XI opening pair, who reached the target of 87 without the loss of a wicket in just 12 overs.
Henry Michael led the scoring with an unbeaten 45, striking four boundaries and two sixes. His partner, Punnoose Babu, remained not out on 20, playing a steady supporting role. Kapil Jawandha was also credited with 7 not out as the target was surpassed rapidly. The Lismore bowling attack, led by Milind Yadav and Ansar Basheer, remained economical in the early stages but was unable to find the breakthrough required to defend the low total. Assisted by 15 extras, Clonmel secured a comfortable 10-wicket victory to start their Division 4 campaign.
Hero of the Match: Deepak Gopinath
While Kapil Jawandha and Henry Michael produced excellent all-round contributions, Deepak Gopinath is the hero of the match. His exceptional bowling figures of 4 wickets for 5 runs at a miserly 1.25 ensured that Lismore could not post a competitive total, effectively deciding the outcome of the contest in the first innings.
Summary of Scores
- Lismore CC 2nd XI: 86 All Out (20 Overs)
- Miguel Carolino: 31 (21)
- Deepak Gopinath: 4/5 (4 Overs)
- Kapil Jawandha: 3/15 (4 Overs)
- United Cricket Clonmel 2nd XI: 87/0 (12 Overs)
- Henry Michael: 45* (28)
- Punnoose Babu: 20* (32)
