Mixed weekend for Kerry’s cricket teams on away fields

SATURDAY 3rd June, Munster Div. 1. After the excitement of the previous weekend at The Oyster Oval, Kerry 2nds came down to earth with a bump at the Marydyke losing to Cork County 2nds in a somewhat one-sided affair. Opening the batting for the visitors, in form Bilal top scored with 37; unfortunately, Alam Morshed went cheaply and after cameos from Sohail (18), and Shani Alam (21), the batting collapsed. From 89 for 2 at the start of the 27th over Kerry were reduced to 96 for 8 in the 31st over, losing 6 wickets in only 5 overs; just scraping into three figures by the time the final wicket fell on 102. Cork’s Kevin O’Sullivan was too hot for Kerry to handle - returning match-winning figures of 5.1-2-4-4. Cork barely broke sweat chasing their target down halfway through the 21st over. Although they lost Coleman (10) cheaply - Duggan (42) and Hassett (43n.o.), back from a recent finger injury, combined to see Cork County 2nds secure another important victory in their Division 1 campaign.

Kerry 2nds, 102 all out. Bilal 37, Kevin O’Sullivan 4-4

lost to Cork County 2nds, 105 for 2, by 8 wickets. Hassett 43not out, Duggan 42.

Sunday 4th June, Munster Premiere Division. The Kerry Senior squad travelled to Adare for their Munster Premiere Division match against Limerick on Sunday. This was a seriously competitive match with both sides turning in team performances to be proud of. Kerry came home with a 7 wicket victory on the DLS method for rain affected contests and must have been somewhat relieved to edge ahead of Limerick by close of play.

Batting first, only 3 of the Limerick batters failed to get into double figures. Farman Yousafzai (41), Murtaza Sidiqi (39) Farrukh Bhagat (36) and Zia Khan (25) were the principle contributors to the Limerick total of 240 all out. Kashif Khan kept it tight for Kerry returning bowling figures of 9.52-32-3 and Khurram Iqbal took 2 wickets for 21 off his 5 overs. Kerry were on 124 for 3 when rain forced the players off the field but Azeem Khan, who finished on 56 not out, got good support from the partners he lost in the endeavour to score briskly enough to stay ahead of the required run-rate. This a crucial factor in securing DL results, Limerick’s 240 was scored at 4.8 an over, Kerry by contrast, were going at nearly 6 an over when the umpires closed the match giving Kerry a seven wicket victory.

Kerry 1sts beat Limerick 1sts by 7 wickets. (DL method)

Sunday 4th June, Munster Div. 2. In another tight contest at Farmers Cross, County Kerry 3rds beat Cork Harlequins 3rds. Batting first, Quins 3 finished on 175 all out when Richard Rutland picked up his third wicket off the last but one ball of the 40th over, taking personal figures of 3-37. Bilal also picked up 3 wickets for 27 off his six overs, but it was his 70 n.o. in reply that held the Kerry innings together and proved to be the match winning contribution; Kerry passed their target with 2 wickets and 5 overs to spare.

Kerry 3rds beat Cork Harlequins 3rds by 2 wickets.

Fixtures

Sat. 10th June: Munster Division 1 - County Kerry 2nds v Limerick 2nds. Venue: Oyster Oval.

Sun. 11th June: Munster Minor Cup QF - County Kerry 3rds v Cork Harlequins 3: Oyster Oval.