Cricketers bounce back against Limerick

THE Kerry Senior squad bounced back in fine style against Limerick in Adare following their mixed performance against Galway last week.

For Limerick, opener Harry Broadhurst (26) and Murtaza Sidiqi, batting at four (31) combined in a solid stand of 47 runs. But disappointingly for Limerick, only captain Zia Khan (22) and Sajid Younis (14) passed the double figures mark as Kerry captain Yaqoob Ali systematically dismantled the Limerick batting line-up. Yaqi finished with figures of 10-2-30-6, those six wickets comprised four lbw; one clean bowled; and the sixth with the help of an outstanding sprint and catch by Daragh Lynch - one of those catches that would earn a whole series of replays in a TV highlights package.

Limerick’s final wicket fell in the 45th over with their score on a lacklustre 139, leaving Kerry to chase a modest target at well under 3 runs per over.

Kerry’s batting line-up failed to capitalise on a similar situation in Galway just seven days earlier, so there must have been some concern in the visitors’ camp as Ahmed Khan and Usman Khan walked to the crease to get the chase underway. But although Ahmed fell early with only 2 to his name, Usman dug in with patience and determination, riding out some serious heat from Limerick opening bowlers Mudassar Aziz and Prassad Hegde.

Arslan Anwar joined Usman with Kerry’s score on 35 for 2 and together they put on a no-nonsense stand of 54. Arslan had raced to 39 off 36 balls (three 6s - two 4s) before he was caught behind the wicket by Shetty off the bowling of Sajid Younis. The Kerry total meanwhile, had progressed to 99 for 3, well ahead of the required run rate and with 28 overs remaining to chase down 41 more runs. Usman soon passed his own half-century mark, but was stumped on 53 (two 6s and five 4s).

Wicket keeper, Mohsin Taj, who smashed a huge six over mid-wicket off his very first delivery, and Shani Alam saw Kerry home in style, easing past their target with more than 17 overs to spare.

Limerick 1st XI: 139 all out (44.5 overs) Murtaza Sidiqi 31; Harry Broadhurst 26; Zia Khan 22; Yaqoob Ali 10-2-30-6; Kashif Khan 6.5-1-12-2.

LOST TO - Kerry 1st XI: 143 for 4 (32.3 overs) Usman Khan 53; Arslan Anwar 39; Prassan Hegde 6-0-25-2; Sajid Younis 6-0-38-2.

Kerry won by 6 wickets

HISTORY will be made at Malahide this Friday when Ireland’s first Test match gets underway against Pakistan, the team they famously beat on St Patrick’s Day in 2007, and the world woke up to a new era in Irish cricket! There will be ball by ball coverage of this (potentially) five-day event on Sky Sports – and RTÉ will be showing highlights of each day’s play.

FIXTURES

Saturday, May 19

Irish National Cup: Kerry CCC v Ballaghadreen in the Oyster Oval, Spa.

Monday, May 28

MCC Tour of Ireland: Kerry XI v MCC in the Oyster Oval, Spa

At the presentation of the Gleneagle Squash Club Maurice O’Donoghue memorial award were from left, Eamon O’Donoghue, Gleneagle Hotel, Donnagh Crowley winner of the prize, and Mike Howard, Cross Refrigeration sponsor of the monthly competition Photo by...