The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Howzat! Double success for Kerry cricket teams
WHAT a sensational weekend for the Kerry Cricket Club this was - with Senior and Junior squads both facing Cork Harlequins in Munster Cricket Cup-Finals.
MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP-FINAL
ON Saturday at the Oyster Oval, fielding first under overcast skies, the Kerry bowling was dominant with wickets shared around evenly and complimented by superb fielding - Imran Pathan fielding in the covers made a brilliant direct hit to run out Singh, and Daragh Lynch pulled off a superb stumping. At the 12th over Quins were on 43 for 4, and though skipper Zuhair Shah (28) and Kieran o’Reilly (19) briefly steadied the ship, Kerry never allowed the batsmen to settle and closed out the visitors innings for 127.
Bilal and Alam got the Kerry reply underway in style, but when Seannan Jones broke through to dismiss Alam for 24, wickets fell in a cluster; in the 17th over Kerry were on 72 for 4 and not looking quite so chirpy. But the experience of Shani Alam (29) was the decisive factor - facing some excellent bowling, particularly from Mustak Mardan and Seannan Jones, he took control to ease Kerry home with little more drama.
Earlier Shani returned bowling figures of 2 for 35 completing an all-round performance to pick up the Man Of The Match award. Kerry chalked up a four wicket victory to secure the Munster Cricket Junior Cup.
QUINS 2: 127 all out - Zuhair Shah 28; Awais Saghir 9-1-18-3 lost by 4 wickets to KERRY 2: 130 for 6 - Shani Alam 29; Mushtaq 9-0-22-3
MUNSTER SENIOR CUP-FINAL
AT The Marydyke in Cork on Sunday, Kerry Seniors faced the daunting task of beating a Cork Harlequins squad which included Munster Coach Ted Williamson and skippered by the experienced Ruadhan (Roo) Jones. But though Quins staged a fine partnership of 58 for the first wicket before Kerry skipper Yaqoob Ali bowled Matt Brewster, progress was always a little steadier than they would have liked. Kerry conceded far too many wides, but in spite of that, a superb 75 from Ted Williamson, and well made 33 from Roo Jones, Kerry limited the Quins total to 207.
Sunday’s weather was hot and sunny - batters weather - so at the innings break, Kerry probably had the edge. In the chase. Khurram, who has been in superb form this season, smashed another half century, finally dismissed for 73. But it was the Arslan Anwar who anchored the chase. It was tight, Quins were not giving up without a fight. Kerry were on 151 for 3 when Khurram fell, things looked under control, but the fourth wicket went down at 191 and the 5th at 192 and suddenly nerves were getting frayed and though the run rate wasn’t really a problem Quins were very vocal and kept the Kerry batsmen under pressure.
But with 2 runs required for victory - Arslan slapped a wide ball through the covers for 4 and the Kerry flag was flying high at The Marydyke; another 4 wicket victory for Kerry, the Man of the Match Award going to Khurram Iqbal and Kerry secure the Munster Senior Cup for the first time in their history!
Umpire Gerard O’Sullivan said “one of the best Munster Senior Finals ever, not just a great match, a great advert for cricket!”
QUINS 1STS 207 all out - Williamson 75; Jones 33; Kashif 10-2-32-4; Khurram 7.4-131-3 lost by 4 wickets to KERRY 1STS
209 for 6 - Khurram 73; Arslan 58; Mustaq 9-0-47-3
FIXTURES
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
Munster Premier League
Cork County 1 v County Kerry 1 in The Mardyke, C ork
Munster Division 2
County Kerry 3 v Cork Harlequins 3 in The Oyster Oval, Tralee