Kerry Firsts hold off Limerick

Munster Division 1

AT the Oyster Oval on Saturday, Kerry’s opening batsmen, Alam Morshed (79) and Bilal Jahid (78 off 78 balls), enjoyed a huge partnership, plundering 182 runs before Limerick’s seventh bowler (Sarfraz Ramay) managed to dismantle Bilal’s stumps. Bilal hit seven 4s and four 6s while Alam smashed eight 4s and a six, but once they were gone only Qassim Butt made a sizeable contribution hitting a brisk 32 including three 4s and two 6s. At the innings break Kerry were a little disappointed with 279 all out off 44 overs, but had set a target that required Limerick to chase at just over a run a ball.

Limerick went out of the starting blocks like whippets and at 44 without loss after 6 overs looked well in control, but Giduthuri and Gouse fell in quick succession and Kerry bowlers managed to calm things down. Swaroop Burra put a swash-buckling 46 together and was joined at the fall of the fourth wicket by Sarfraz Ramay who hit four 4s and two 6s in a scintillating 59 off only 49 balls. But in spite of some great running between the wickets, and a handsome 29 from Dharmesh Patel late in the innings, Limerick continued to fall behind the required run rate.

Rain reduced the overs and target, but unfortunately for them, Limerick’s valiant hard hitting and several very high scoring overs late on were not quite enough; their tenth wicket fell at 229; 38 runs shy of the revised target.

KERRY - 279 all out (44 overs) - Alam 79; Bilal 78; Qassim 32; Sarfraz Ramay 9-0-513 - WON by 38 runs

LIMERICK - (target reduced to 267) 229 all out (40.2 overs) - Sarfraz Ramay 59; Swaroop Burra 46; Imran Pathan 6.2-0-21-3

Munster Minor Cup

The Oyster Oval hosted a derby between Kerry CCC 3rd squad and North Kerry on Sunday. County Kerry 3rds have been consistently strong over recent seasons and put in another dominant performance here. County Kerry batted first posting 273 from their allotted 40 overs with Naail Riaz leading the way with a superb century, and that suffering from severe cramps in the last 5 overs, before being caught on the boundary on the final ball of the innings. North Kerry showed great resilience but couldn’t match County Kerry’s tempo; lead by an excellent 74 from Jonathan Boulding they finished on 179 for 4.

KERRY 273 for 7 (40 overs) Naail Riaz 100; Ian Rutland 53; Brendan Meehan 8-0-63-4 KERRY WON by 94 runs

NORTH KERRY 179 for 4 (40 overs) Jonathan Boulding 74; Gary Picket 29; John Roux 8-1-20-2; Omid Wazari; 7-1-23-2 Kerry progress to the semi-final of the Munster Minor Cup where they meet the winners of the UCC v Lismore quarter-final.

Munster T20 Senior Blast

For the second year running, Kerry’s 1st squad fell at the semi-final stage on Monday at The Marydyke, Limerick knocking out the Kingdom squad, winning by eight wickets. Limerick lost the Final to Cork County.

Fixtures

Saturday, June 9

Kerry 2nds - Junior T20s in Adare

Sunday, June 10

Munster Premier Division - County Kerry 1sts v Cork Harlequins 1sts in the Oyster Oval

Photo by Sportsfile Kieran Donaghy of Kerry in with supporters after the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Kerry and Clare at Fitzgerald Stadium