Two comfortable victories for Kerry sides as Munster Shield final awaits

TWO seriously solid team performances for the 1st and 3rd squads on Sunday consolidate their healthy positions in their respective division standings.

At home, the blustery August weather at The Oyster Oval in Spa didn’t stop Kerry thirds compiling 192 before the last wicket fell in the 40th and final over.

Adam Alyamar top-scored with 55 off 62 balls including three 4s and a 6, enjoying a century partnership with Junaid Khalid (44) to put Kerry very much in the box seat at the innings break.

Darragh Lynch (25) and Hassan (13) both looked in good form, and though the bowling figures included more wides than Cork would like to concede, it’s only fair to underline that there was an exceptionally cantankerous west wind creating the most difficult of bowling conditions.

But though Junaid added to his handsome batting performance with excellent bowling figures of 2-13 it was Adam Alyamar who stole the show by taking 3 - 19 off 5 overs. But not just any wickets, Cork’s top three batsmen fell to his searching bowling.

Younus was first to go, Alyamar holding on to a sharp return catch in his second over, and then in his next over clean bowled opener Hamza Asif and number 3 bat, J Simon.

At 3 wickets down for 35, Cork were looking shaky. Rain threatened to force an interruption, but credit to umpire and players who braved the worst of the weather; that west wind drove the showers away again and Kerry kept the pressure on.

Cork failed to build partnerships and Kerry took the 10th wicket with Cork on 98, a convincing 94 run victory margin for the Kingdom cricketers.

Kerry 3rds, 192: Alyamar 55, Junaid 44, Lynch 25: Mian 4-38

Cork County 3rds, 98: Younus 20, Saleem 20: Krishnappa 3-16, Alyamar 3-19, Junaid 2-13

Kerry firsts travelled to Town Park Midleton and secured a morale boosting victory ahead of next weeks defence of their Senior Shield title.

Kerry racked up an impressive 325 including a brutal century from Azeem who took a liking to the Midleton bowlers scoring 151 including no less than twelve 6s; Sohail (63) and Shani Alam (47) provided the bulk of the support.

Midleton chased their total with serious intent but the Kerry bowlers stayed well in control to close down the match with the home squad all out for 251. Kerry won by 74 runs.

Kerry 1sts 325: Azeem 151; Sohail 63; Shani 47.

Midleton 1sts 251: Wilson 67; Smith 35; Usman 4-66; Azeem 3-70; Younis 2 - 33.

Last year, Kerry beat Limerick to win the 2015 Munster Senior Shield, next weekend they travel to the Marydyke to defend that title.

This year they take on the might of Munster’s most consistent team over recent years, Cork County are also fresh from a morale boosting win against Malahide in Leinster Division 2.

But if Kerry firsts can take both form and confidence from Sundays win over Midleton down to the Marydyke this coming Saturday, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t retain that prized piece of silverware.