Kerry cricket team qualifies for Munster Senior T20 final

THIS weekend saw the start of the Munster Senior T20 competition. Kerry travelled to Adare where Kerry, Limerick and Galway faced each other in a triangular event. The two top teams go forward to Finals Day, next Saturday, June 18, at the Mardyke. THE Kingdom cricketers got their campaign underway batting first, and doing so at a brisk pace, scoring at 10 runs an over. A few wickets in the process, but with Alam Morshed smacking 33 off only 13 balls and club pro Arslan knocking a superb 71 off 45 balls. Kerry seemed to be well in control posting a seriously challenging total of 198 off the allotted 20 overs.

Limerick started strongly in reply with both opening batsmen posting fine half centuries, Gouse 57 and Khan, 62 but Kerry got back into the game with some great fielding including 2 runouts and 2 crucial catches. The pendulum swung back Limericks way with Burke hitting 32 in no time. But it came down to a last over show down with Limerick needing 22 runs. With all the main bowlers used, Sean Rutland was called up to bowl. 22 runs off one over is a big ask - but followers of t20 will know well that final overs often produce those necessary fireworks. In this case, it was Kerry who sealed the deal with Rutland conceding just 2 runs and taking a wicket in an drama-packed match winning over for Kerry.

Kerry 198 - Limerick 179. Kerry win by 19 runs. GALWAY batted first, but got off to a bad start with Shani talking a wicket with the 3rd ball off the match. But the Galway batsmen responded by digging in and then scoring at a furious pace, Ajas top scoring with 46 and Danish 42.

With the score threatening to go past 200, the Kerry captain turned to Azeem, who bowled really well taking two wickets and conceding only 19 runs off his allotted 4 overs. Nevertheless, after their twentieth over Galway had 185 on the board. Another big total - this time it would be Kerry needing to chase it down

Kerry started well, staying well up with the required run rate with 35 runs off the first 4 overs, until Azeem fell for17. Alam and Usman tried to keep the runs flowing until Usman was run out on 33. Kerry lost wickets all too regularly and with the game slipping away Alam was caught on 25. Kerry were left needing 76 off the last 4 overs. Indeed it proved too much, in spite of a defiant rearguard action with Sean Rutland hitting 15 off just 9 balls, Kerry fell short by 48 runs.

Galway 185 - Kerry 137. Galway win by 48 runs GALWAY beat Limerick in the third match of the day so, Limerick are eliminated, and Galway and Kerry go forward to compete in finals day at The Marydyke on Saturday. ON Sunday Kerry Thirds faced Cork County Thirds at The Marydyke Kerry beat cork county by 70 runs. Batting first, Kerry made a steady start, getting to 26 runs off the first ten overs. At that point wickets started to fall and the visitors had lost three wickets for 57 at the twentieth over. Awais (18) and Sheeva (22) got their heads down and when they fell John Roux (25) and Mourad, top scoring with a vital 46, all helping Kerry to a total of 157.

Cork County looked strong in reply, posting 30 runs off the first ten overs, before John Roux was brought on to bowl and struck with his first ball. This triggered some superb fielding by Kerry who safely pouched 5 out of 5 catches off the bowling of Bilal. It was Bilals first appearance as a bowler for Kerry and he finished with the outstanding figures of 6.3 overs - 5 wickets for 25 runs; and to reinforce his claim to man of the match - he added a run-out to his tally.

All three Kerry squads have really raised their game in the fielding department, so to dismiss Cork for an underwhelming total of 87 and chalk up a victory by a 70 run margin is an encouraging reward for the work that is being put in.