Seniors gain vitial victory over Galway at home

ALL three Kerry squads were in action this weekend, but it was the Seniors who caught the limelight.

Munster Premiere Division

THE headline match for Kerry CCC was the Munster Premiere Division contest against visitors Galway, not only because they both need winning points to lift themselves up from the bottom of the league, but because they face each other on Sunday July 15 in another battle at the Oyster Oval, for a semi-final spot in the Clear Currency National Cup.

Galway batted first and lost two early wickets, courtesy of some high quality pace bowling from Kashif and Khurram, the experienced pair of Danish Ali And Suki Singh set about rebuilding.

Singh hit eight 4s in a superbly constructed 58, while Danish played with equal composure stroking nine 4s and a 6 in a top quality 78; together, these two built a partnership of 101, but Kerry bowlers never let the batters dominate.

Once Singh was removed, wickets fell regularly and in spite of a breezy 24 from tail-ender Umair Maqsood, Galway could only reach 218 all out. By contrast, the Kerry batsmen went at their task as if it was a T20 match.

Khurram got into his stride instantly and at the 9th over he’d scored 61 of the 81 runs on the board; his knock included nine 4s and three towering 6s off consecutive balls. Danish Ali had the final word getting Khurram caught behind the wicket, but that only brought the experienced Arslan Anwar together with Awais Saghir with the Kerry score on 103 for 3, and that was Galway’s last success.

Anwar was on a mission, he thumped twelve 4s and four 6s in an undefeated 97. Kerry raced past the target set by Galway in only 27 overs, almost double the run rate achieved by the visitors, to win by seven wickets; valua- ble points in their 2018 Munster premiere Division campaign, but more importantly, a crucial advantage ahead of the prestigious Clear Currency National Cup quarter-final on Sunday July 15.

Galway: 218 all out (50overs) Danish Ali 78; Sukhpal Singh 58; Yaqoob

Ali 10-2-24-3 lost by 7 wickets to

Kerry: 221 for 3 (27overs) Arslan Anwar 97not-out; Khurram Iqbal 61;

Danish Ali 6-0-38-2

Munster Division 1

ON Saturday, Kerry’s Junior squad found themselves two men short against Tipperary 1sts, and though they fought hard enough, the team of nine couldn’t quite overpower their visitors.

Kerry batted first with Qassim Butt (65) and Alam Morshed (26) top scoring as Kerry posted 1498. Alam completed an excellent all round performance taking three wickets for only 13 runs, but Tipperary held their nerve and hit their target with four overs and two wickets to spare.

Kerry 2nds: 149-8 (29.4overs). Qassim 65; Alam 26; Tiju 8-0-29-3 lost by 2 wickets to Tipperary 1sts: 150-8 (41.4overs). Tiju 28 ; Saree 24; Morshed

9-4-13-3; Rutland 8-0-32-3.

Munster Division 2

At The Farm, in Cork, the home side UCC, were all out for 172, but Kerry 3rds, who have been dominant in this division recently were bowled out for 121.

UCC: 172 all out. Saret 52; Kitan; 55; Imran 5 - 9; Adil 3 - 33; Ohmid 2 -24 won by 51 runs

Kerry 3rds 121 all out. Prince 27; Imran 23; Abbil 5 - 24