The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Seconds just miss out to Tipperary at the Oyster
BATTING first on home soil, Kerry’s Seconds set the visitors a decent target of 183. The first clutch of games at the new Oyster Oval have been low scoring affairs, mostly dominated by the bowlers – so the Kingdom squad were probably the happier at the innings break.
Owais Baca led with a superbly constructed 87 not out including 9 fours and a maximum finding good support from Shiva (26) and Daragh Lynch (18). Tiju (3-30) and Jomy (3-36) shared most of the spoils for Tipperary, but Sree Hari picked up 2 wickets in just 3 overs for only 5 runs to help restrict Kerry late in the innings.
In reply, Tipperaray rapidly found themselves four wickets down with only 19 runs on the board, but had recovered to 5 for 53 when Jomy fell LBW to Sean Rutland. Fintan Moore (not out 59) and Srath (29) combined to turn the match in Tipperary’s favour. Umpire Bert Daley chose this partnership as his ‘Pick of the Play’ because it was the phase of the match that decisively swung the match for the visitors.
Until then, Owais Baca would have been the leading contender for a ‘Man Of The Match’ award taking early wickets to compliment his outstanding innings with the bat, but was forced out of the match with a ham-string injury. That was bad luck for Kerry, but in the field, there were too many dropped catches to consider a matter of chance; in this match, the home team were disappointing in that department.
Kerry took late wickets and came close to making amends for the spilled catches; but, with scores level at the end of the 43rd over, although they were 9 wickets down, Tipperary had the luxury of 12 balls to find that decisive single and also the cool head of Fintan Moore to see them home. ANOTHER low scoring match at the Oyster Oval on Sunday was also another game that went down to the wire. Kerry’s Thirds failed to survive the full forty overs, with Tipperary Second’s Thomas completing an outstanding five wicket haul by bowling number 11 bat Shazaib Saghir for a duck. Remarkably four of those wickets were bowled and the fifth was lbw; a special effort to take five wickets unassisted.
Home boys Dave Ramsey (7) and Jonathan Boulding (29) put on 32 for the first wicket, but although Mourad and Daragh Lynch both contributed 17, and though Ramsey doggedly occupied the crease, wickets fell too regularly. Cameron Gafoor (15) struck 3 fours combining with Addi Dar in a brief rearguard action, but unlike the previous day - it was probably the visitors who were happiest at the innings break. The Kerry total of 125 would not be easy to defend.
Kerry bowlers were soon in business, Shafique striking first with only 11 on the Tipperary scoresheet. The next wicket fell at 17 and Shazaib took two in two balls leaving the visitors on a very shaky 19 for 4. Tino (11), Praveen (28) and Mayjan (24) got their heads down and between them did the lion’s share of rebuilding for Tipperary. With the visitors looking much more business like on 75 for 4, Crucially Mourad took Tino’s wicket in the 25th over, before Dave Ramsey produced a double wicket maiden to remove Praveen and Arun.
At 77 for 7 Kerry appeared to be back in control, but Tipperary were not ready to concede. The tail wagged mightily to take them on to 124 for 9. It fell to Junaid to deliver the coup de grace with only 4 balls remaining. Kerry the victors by a single run. AFTER two successive home defeats, Kerry’s Second squad got back on track at Farmers Cross on Sunday, winning by 109 runs. More than that, it was sweet revenge because the victory was against Cork Harlequins, who just a week earlier had inflicted the first defeat on the home team at the Oyster Oval.
This was a decisive victory for Kerry, the margin of 109 is a timely boost to confidence. Khurram turned in yet another fine all-round performance, and Alam Morshed, usually thought of as a hard hitting batsman, continues to grow in confidence as a highly effective spin-bowler.
Along with Owais Shah, Alam recently appeared in a Munster XI in a development match against MCC; if he can further develop himself as a genuine all-rounder, that can only improve his prospects of future call-ups for Munster.
At the Oyster Oval on Monday the Kerry First lost to County Cork by 7 wickets in the Munster Premiere League. Batting first, Kerry’s Usman and Azeem put on a watchful 38 for the first wicket, but after that, only Shani Alam flourished. Shani finished not out 59 as Kerry failed to build a big enough total to test the dominant team in Munster.
Openers Usman (21) and Azeem (12) were the only other batsmen to get into double figures as the home team posted a disappointing 131. Shani got to 50 off 63 balls and finished with a tally of 6 fours while his team mates all too consistently succumbed to the high quality bowling and pressure created by tight fielding from the Cork men.
In reply for Cork, Banon and Hasset put on 40 before Shani Alam, currently in form with bat and ball, broke through in his second over. Colemen added 14 before being trapped LBW by Mohsin Taj, but Banon (51) and Duggan (not out 38) did enough to ease the visitors to their target with 12 overs to spare.
FIXTURES
Saturday, June 11 Galway - Limerick - Kerry: Senior Twenty-20 Sunday, June 12 Cork County 3 v Kerry 3 - Mardyke (Division 2)