Munster Reds record historic double over Northern Knights

BOTH matches scheduled for Kerry Cricket on this rain affected weekend were washouts, so the most notable matches from the Kerry perspective was a pair of t20 encounters between Munster Reds and a Northern Knights Development XI.

Terenure in south Dublin was the neutral venue for this key fixture, a first opportunity for a senior Munster Cricket squad to test their strength against an Inter-Provincial squad (albeit a Development XI) since the restoration of Irish Inter-Provincial matches in May 2013. The powers that be are known to doubt the readiness of the cricketing standards in the most southerly of the provinces, but Munster made the most of their opportunity and made their case for inclusion with a degree of style.

The recently re-branded Munster Reds racked up two consecutive victories, neither of which could be called close encounters. The Northern Knights selectors didn’t send any of the major stars to do battle - but perhaps they are regretting that decision now.

In Match 1 Munster bowled first, restricting the northerners to 117 for 9 off their 20 overs before cruising past that target for the loss of only three wickets and almost five overs to spare. Alan Eastwood and Mudassar Aziz both picked up three wickets in the Knights innings, Jamie Holmes (52) prospered but got little support.

In Munster’s reply, Stephan Groblar (53) and Arslan Anwar (30) put on 64 for the first wicket in quick time helping the Reds to ease comfortably past their target; thus recording a seven-wicket victory in their first contest against any kind of Inter-Pro representation.

The second victory was even more emphatic. In Match 2 Munster batted first, and though Ross Durrity, one of Munster’s best batsmen, was unavailable through injury, there was enough strength in the batting line-up to post 204 for the loss of five wickets.

Conor Mullan (69) and Cormac Hassett (38) both peppered the boundary while wicket-keeper Mubeen Ali smashed a quick fire 26 including 3 fours and 2 sixes. 200 is a major psychological barrier in the t20 format, the Knights squad never looked like getting close. Aaron Cawley (3-32) took the bowling honours in this match, as the Knights Development XI were bowled out in the 18th over for 99. Munster came away with a 105-run victory to complete a perfect debut.

There will, of course, be detractors who continue to point out that this was not a ‘full’ Knights squad, but you can only beat the team that arrives to play the match, and in this case Munster Reds clearly demonstrated that they are capable of competing against stronger opposition.

FIXTURES

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 Munster Premier League Kerry v Midleton in Oyster Oval, The Spa SUNDAY, AUGUST 28 Munster Premier League Kerry v Galway in Oyster Oval, The Spa Munster Division 2 Tipperary 2 v North Kerry in Ballyegan Munster Division 2 UCC v Kerry 3 in The Farm