Mixed fortunes for Kerry in a sun-baked slog-fest

WHO would have believed it, midsummer weather arriving bang on cue for midsummer!

In cricket terms, that means T20s: the shortest, most fast and furious format of the game. The 3threeway round-robin event, between Galway, Limerick and Kerry at Adare on Sunday was a serious slog-fest.

As it happens just 115 of the maximum 120 overs were bowled across the three matches, but a massive 1096 runs were notched up on the day.

It should be said that the long awaited heat-wave didn’t help fielder’s concentration significantly, but in spite of regular fumbles in the field, spectators were treated to some outstanding ball striking.

The first match of the day went to hosts Limerick who posted a challenging total of 195 for 7 off the bowling of Galway who could only muster 158 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their run chase. Limerick won by 37 runs.

The second match of the day pitted Kerry against Galway. Kerry 1sts, coming off a run of recent good form in stormy weather, seemed to wilt in the heat, failing to build partnerships and finding themselves bowled out in 19.3 overs.

Arslan Anwar top scored with 25, but 148 always looked like a difficult total to defend in such batting friendly conditions. In the event Galway, bounced back from their earlier defeat and plundered 150 from 15 overs for the loss of only two wickets. Suki Singh top scored with 71 including ten 4s and two 6s. Galway won by eight wickets.

But the real fireworks were reserved for the show-down between Kerry and hosts Limerick. In spite of losing Ahmed Khan early, Khuram and Azeem (37) put on a storming 71 for the second wicket before Khuram was caught for 29.

Enter Arslan Anwar, who top scored again, belting ten 4s and five 6s in his undefeated 91 as Kerry amassed 213 runs off the bat, boosted by 12 penalty runs for a whopping total of 225.

After the shakiest of starts on 11 for 2, Shane Burke steadied the ship for Limerick while Murtaza Sidiqi went about proving that anything is possible as long as it is numerically possible.

The record books will have to be scoured, Sidiqi scored eleven 4s and no less than thirteen 6s in an outrageous knock of 150 (off only 65 balls!) before he was snapped up by wicket-keeper Ian Rutland off the bowling of Khuram Khan.

But in spite of Sidiqi’s brilliant display of clean hitting, Limerick fell five runs short of their target having scored 220 for six off their allotted 20 overs. Kerry won by five runs.

So all three squads go home with a win and a loss, they reconvene next Sunday at Adare for Round Two to decide which team is eliminated and which two go forward to the Munster Senior T20 Finals day at The Marydyke. FIXTURES SATURDAY JUNE 24

Munster Junior T20 Blast, Pool 2 - Kerry, Limerick and Galway in Adare

Sunday June 25

Munster Senior T20 Blast, Pool 2, Round 2 Kerry, Limerick and Galway in Adare Munster Minor Cup Quarter-Final: Kerry 3 v Cork Harlequins 3 in Oyster Oval