The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry beat Cork Quins to book place in Munster Senior Cup semi-final
CORK Harlequins seconds visited the Oyster Oval on Saturday for a Munster Division 1 match against the Kerry second squad to find their hosts in outstanding form.
Batting first, Kerry were dominant. Opener Alam Morshed (10) went early and Awais Saghir (13) batting number 3, also failed to put down anchor, but that dismissal brought Qassim Butt to the wicket. His partnership with ‘Mr Consistency’, Bilal, was worth 105. Bilal was finally dismissed on 71, but though Qassim then found brief support from Usman Khan (11) he and captain Mohsin Taj (48) piled on yet more agony for the Harlequins bowlers.
Qassim finished on a superb 112 not out, his maiden century for Kerry (including eight 6s and five 4s) raised Kerry to a challenging 282 for five wickets at the innings break. Sibli was the pick of the Quins bowling attack taking 3 for 62.
In reply Harlequins were unable to cope with the scoreboard pressure. After a faltering start, they found themselves 10 for 2 after the first four overs. Captain Zuhair Shah showed his class with a defiant 62 which included four 6s and three 4s, but the visitors were unable to build partnerships, regularly losing wickets as the Kerry bowlers kept tidy lines.
Isaac Whittaker put a breezy 40 together including three 6s and two 4s, but though he and number 11 bat Sibli put on 38 for the 10th wicket, Mohsin Taj clean bowled him to close the Quins innings on 170. Best bowling figures were claimed by Alam Morshed (7-2-202) while Mohsin, Awais and Sajid also picked up two wickets apiece. Kerry won by 112 runs.
Cork Harlequins first team visited the Oyster Oval on Sunday to challenge for a semi-final place in the Munster Senior Cup. This quarter-final fixture was a 50 over a side match, but in the event, under warm sunshine, less than 35 overs in total settled the matter.
The visitors batted first, Munster Coach and Quins captain, Ted Williamson faced the first over from Kerry captain, Kashif Khan, scored two off the first ball and a boundary on the last ball of the over.
But Shani Alam struck with the last ball of his first over to remove Mustak Marden, then, with the very next ball, Kashif clean bowled Williamson with just six to his credit.
Suddenly, Quins were two wickets down with only six runs on the board; and the visitors never really recovered, by over 17 the score was a paltry looking 47 for nine wickets.
But Nabeel combined with young Liam Edwards in Quins only partnership to pass the 20 run mark. Nabeel (23) was the last wicket to fall in the 23rd over as Quins capitulated for the sorry looking total of 70 runs. Shani Alam was their nemesis, finishing on 10-2-21-5, well supported by Azeem who took four for 32.
Kerry made hard work of closing out the match and though they needed less than 12 overs to pass the winning post, ‘romping home’ would be a generous description, as they lost five wickets in the process. That said, a five wicket win is a good win, good enough to take them through to the Munster Senior Cup semi-final where they will face Limerick.
Next Sunday, Kerry host Strabane in the re-scheduled contest lost to rain on July 9. This is a hugely important match for the Kingdom’s top cricket squad, so please come and support the boys at the stunning cricket pitch at The Spa, safe in the knowledge that if it rains again, there’s always a warm welcome to be had at the nearby Oyster Tavern.
FIXTURES
SUNDAY JULY 23
Irish National Cup Quarter-final
Kerry 1sts v Strabane 1sts in Oyster Oval Munster Division 2
Kerry 3rds v Cork County 3rds in The Marydyke