Limerick Blasters CC 1st XI Claims Maiden MCU Division 1 T20 Title 🏏🏆
Cork, Farmers Cross: Limerick Blasters CC 1st XI secured their first-ever MCU Division 1 T20 silverware with a 63-run victory over Cork Harlequins CC 2nd XI in the final on Saturday, June 14th. The Blasters posted 213 for 6, which proved to be a match-winning score.
Limerick Blasters’ Innings
Limerick Blasters, batting first, put on an impressive display of T20 batting to reach 213 for 6 from their allotted 20 overs. Openers Anunath Gopinathan Valsala (26 off 18) and George Raju (22 off 18) provided a brisk start. After Valsala’s dismissal, Rahul Poulose (13) continued the momentum before falling. However, the innings truly accelerated with Ajith A (38 off 20), who struck a six and several boundaries.
The momentum was then carried forward by a powerful partnership between Jeffin Mathew (59* off 35) and Feby K Keepanasseril Roby (24 off 14). Feby was particularly devastating, hitting three consecutive sixes in the 17th over. Jeffin remained unbeaten and continued to find boundaries, including a six in the final over, to push the total well beyond 200.
Cork Harlequins’ bowlers faced a challenging task in the face of the Blaster’s batting. Md Nazmul Hasan Sajib picked up 3 wickets and Seneth Sumanasinghe claimed 2, but the scoring rate remained high throughout the innings. Young seamer Charlie Magee also took a wicket.
Cork Harlequins’ Chase
Chasing a daunting target of 214 at nearly 11 runs per over from the outset, meant that Cork Harlequins innings needed to get off to a strong start. Unfortunately for the home side, they lost opener Shivam Kislay (8) and Craig Taylor (4) early. Dineth Sumanasinghe (25) and Adam Hickey (19) attempted to rebuild but the required run rate proved challenging and the scoreboard pressure saw wickets fall at regular intervals.
T Senthil Kumar Kavitha (16) provided some stability, and skipper Conor Stevenson rebuffed the Limerick attack with an unbeaten 50 of real quality. When Kavitha fell, however, the total was effectively out of reach, despite a rearguard 12* from Seneth Sumanasinghe who held firm at the crease with his Captain.
Limerick Blasters’ bowlers were disciplined in their defence of the large total. Regis Rex claimed 3 wickets, putting consistent pressure on the Harlequins’ batsmen. AT Kurackalattuchira took 2 key wickets, as did Arun Kumar Harikumar while Rahul Poulose picked up the crucial early breakthrough.
Congratulations to Limerick Blasters CC 1st XI on their Division 1 T20 title, their first silverware at this level. Congratulations to Praveen and the squad on this significant achievement.
Hero of the Match:
The hero of the match is awarded to Jeffin Mathew of Limerick Blasters CC 1st XI for his unbeaten 59 runs from 35 balls, and a hostile spell of fast bowling that resulted in a wicket. His innings proved to be the difference between the two sides.
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Clare CC 3rd XI Secures MCU Division 3 T20 Title 🏏🏆
Tralee, Oyster Oval: Clare CC 3rd XI secured their second silverware at this level, winning the MCU Division 3 T20 title with a 64-run victory over Nenagh CC 3rd XI on Saturday, June 14th.
Clare CC 144-9 Nenagh CC 80
Clare’s Innings: Palanisamy’s Late Blitz Powers Total
The Clare CC 3rd XI started badly- and they were struggling at 1-4 in the sixth over. After losing early wickets, including Sumit Vaish (1), Channabasappa (0), and Tejas Dagha (5), Hrushikesh Pardeshi (10) and Farhan Javed (7) attempted to rebuild. The innings gained momentum with Johnson Navroop, who top-scored with a vital 42 runs off 27 balls, including 4 maximums and two boundaries.
The innings was given further impetus with a late charge by Chandrasekaran Palanisamy. He unleashed a flurry of boundaries, including three consecutive sixes in the final over, to finish with 38 runs off just 21 balls. Zari Waraich (19*) also contributed crucial runs towards the end.
Nenagh’s bowlers, despite some early breakthroughs, struggled to contain the flow of runs in the latter stages. Jerin George picked up 3 wickets, and Kanagaratenam Prasanna also contributed with 2 wickets. Amit Gupta chipped in with a wicket, as did Sibin Jacob.
Nenagh’s Chase: The Stuggle to Build Partnerships
Chasing 145 for victory, Nenagh CC 3rd XI struggled from the outset, but a 42-2, their prospects still looked promising. However, Nenagh consistently lost wickets and were unable to build the partnerships required for a successful chase. Clare’s bowlers maintained tight lines and picked up wickets at regular intervals. Gurpreet Singh was the chief destroyer, claiming a well crafted ‘5fer’ , returning the remarkable figures of 4-1-7-5. Hrushikesh Pardeshi picked up 3 wickets in just two overs (2.3-0-21-3), and Raj More claimed one scalp.
Nenagh were eventually bowled out for 80 runs in the 16th over. Raja Umer (20) provided some resistance in the middle order, as did Ebin Baby (15)
Congratulations to Captain Farhan Javed and the entire Clare CC 3rd XI squad on winning the MCU Division 3 T20 title!
Hero of the Match:
The hero of the match is awarded to Gurpreet Singh of Clare CC 3rd XI. His accurate and incisive bowling effectively derailed the Nenagh run chase in the final.
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Midleton CC 1st XI Clinches Close Victory Over UCC CC 1st XI
Midleton, Townparks: In an MCU Premier T20 League encounter on Thursday, June 12th, Midleton CC 1st XI defeated UCC CC 1st XI by 11 runs. Midleton set a target of 141 for 9 and successfully defended it, restricting UCC to 130 all out.
Midleton’s Innings: Shabir’s Contribution Leads the Way
Midleton CC 1st XI, batting first, posted a total of 141 for 9 in their 20 overs. After an early wicket by I Haider, who dismissed Jose George (0), Midleton’s innings was stabilized by Majid Khan, who scored a quickfire 34 runs off 21 balls, including two fours and a six in the 5th over. Andrew Beyrooti also contributed with 31 runs off 30 balls.
The most significant contribution came from Muhammad Shabir, who top-scored with 45 runs off 32 balls, featuring four sixes and two fours. However, UCC’s bowlers, particularly S Belwal, were effective in picking up wickets in clusters. Belwal claimed an impressive 4 wickets, including key dismissals of Andrew Beyrooti, Muhammad Shabir, and Fayyaz Khan. I Haider also took 3 wickets.
UCC’s Chase: Gahlot’s Efforts Not Enough
Chasing 142 for victory, UCC CC 1st XI fell just short, being bowled out for 130. Their innings started with an early wicket by Andrew Beyrooti, who dismissed I Haider (0). Muhammad Rizwan (16) and S Nagaraj (39) then built a solid partnership, providing a strong foundation for the chase. Nagaraj played a particularly well-paced innings, rotating the strike effectively.
Sagar Gahlot then accelerated the scoring, contributing 40 runs off 24 balls, including two sixes and three fours, keeping UCC in the hunt. However, Midleton’s bowlers managed to pick up crucial wickets at vital moments. Fayyaz Khan was the most impactful, claiming 4 wickets, including the key dismissals of S Nagaraj and Sagar Gahlot. Vipinachandran and Beyrooti picked up 2 wickets each.
Hero of the Match:
The hero of the match is awarded to Fayyaz Khan of Midleton CC 1st XI for his outstanding bowling performance. His crucial 4-wicket haul, particularly dismantling UCC’s middle order including the key wicket of Sagar Gahlot, was instrumental in stopping the run chase, and securing Midleton’s 11-run victory.
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County Galway Dominates Limerick CC in Premier Division Clash
Galway, Lydican (MC): County Galway CC 1st XI secured a commanding 158-run victory over Limerick CC 1st XI in their MCU Premier Division 50-over match. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Galway posted 235 for 8 before bowling out Limerick for just 77.
County Galway’s Innings: Singh and Verma Lead the Charge
County Galway CC 1st XI set a strong total of 235 for 8 in their 50 overs. Openers S Nasim (3) and D Giohes (18) provided an early start. The innings was then anchored by S Mishra (34) and a crucial half-century from S Singh, who scored 65 runs off 80 balls, including 7 fours. A Verma also played a significant role with 43 runs off 74 balls, hitting 4 sixes. A late contribution from K Mehmood (35 off 31), who hit 3 fours and a six, pushed Galway to a strong total.
Limerick CC’s bowlers worked hard, with Parth Borghare being the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 60 runs. Prasad Hegde also took 2 wickets, while Ajay Hari and Anvesh Bogavelly each secured a wicket.
Limerick’s Chase: Batting Collapse Against Disciplined Bowling
In reply, Limerick CC 1st XI struggled significantly and were bowled out for just 77 runs in 32.3 overs. Their top order failed to fire, with Sourabh Teke (1), B Dahima (2), and Shozab Ali Taj (1) falling cheaply. Nishant Kumar (14) offered some early resistance.
The middle order, including Anvesh Bogavelly (7), S Prabhu (12), and Manoj Sharma (18), attempted to rebuild, but consistent wickets stifled any momentum. County Galway’s bowlers maintained tight lines and proved highly effective. S Singh was the star with the ball, taking an impressive 4 wickets for just 28 runs. D Ali picked up 2 wickets, and K Mehmood claimed 3 wickets, ensuring Limerick’s collapse.
Hero of the Match:
The hero of the match is S Singh of County Galway CC 1st XI. His outstanding all-round performance, contributing a crucial 65 runs with the bat and then dismantling Limerick’s batting lineup with an impressive 4-wicket haul for only 28 runs off 10 overs, was instrumental in securing Galway’s dominant victory.
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Cork Harlequins CC 5th XI Defeats Kerry CC 5th XI in Division 3B Encounter
Tralee, Oyster Oval: Cork Harlequins CC 5th XI secured a 32-run victory over Kerry CC 5th XI in their MCU Division 3B 40-over match on Sunday, June 15th. Harlequins posted a competitive 207 for 6, which proved too high a target for Kerry, who finished on 175 for 7.
Cork Harlequins’ Innings: Bilal Ahsan Anchors the Score
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Cork Harlequins CC 5th XI set a challenging total of 207 for 6. Openers Paul Bridgeman (28) and S Sinha (24) provided a steady start. While Indika Sanjeewa Abeywickrama Dhanapala (2) fell early, H Ahsan (29) contributed a valuable supporting knock.
The cornerstone of the Harlequins’ innings was Bilal Ahsan, who played a magnificent unbeaten innings of 70 runs off 71 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes. He skillfully built partnerships and accelerated the scoring in the latter half of the innings. D Divakaran also provided a crucial late surge with a quickfire 23 runs off 21 balls.
Kerry CC’s bowlers faced a tough task against Harlequins’ disciplined batting. Sujal Kumar was the most successful, taking 2 wickets. N Shah, Richard Rutland, and Sebastian Meenan each contributed with a wicket. However, Kerry conceded a significant 16 wides, adding to the Harlequins’ total.
Kerry’s Chase: N Shah’s Half-Century Not Enough
In their pursuit of 208, Kerry CC 5th XI made a valiant effort but ultimately fell short, reaching 175 for 7. They had a difficult start, losing L Handelman (0) and Brian H (0) early. Paul Finch (26) played a patient anchor role, facing 70 balls.
The most substantial contribution came from N Shah, who scored a well-compiled 60 runs off 71 balls, including 3 fours and a six. He formed a key partnership with Ashwin Thomas (14) and then Jonathan Boulding (18), keeping Kerry’s hopes alive. However, the required run rate continued to climb.
Cork Harlequins’ bowlers maintained good control, particularly Zeeshan Ullah, who was outstanding with 3 wickets for just 22 runs. D Divakaran and S Sinha each picked up a wicket. But Kerry’s chase was also aided by a staggering 47 wides conceded by Harlequins, indicating some wayward bowling that still yielded a win.
Hero of the Match:
The hero of the match is Bilal Ahsan of Cork Harlequins CC 5th XI for his match-winning unbeaten knock of 70 runs off 71 balls. His innings was the foundation of Harlequins’ competitive total, which ultimately proved decisive in their 32-run victory.
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