A tense finish ensued with some frantic fielding, the end of the match had it all- overthrows, dropped catches, controversy, you name it!
With unplayable conditions resulting in an abandoned match in Adare on Sunday, it was just Limerick’s 2nd XI who could start their league campaign last weekend, as they entertained Cork County at the Manor Fields on Saturday afternoon. With 48 hours of dry weather leading into the game, both teams were expecting to get a full game in and hoped to kickstart their season on the right foot.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Limerick’s opening bowlers struggled to control the swing and showed some early season rustiness with some loose extras. County kept the scoreboard ticking over with no real acceleration as their middle order provided a basis for the latter part of their innings. Limerick managed to take a handful of wickets before drinks, including one on the final ball before the interval.
Despite being five down with over twenty overs to bat, County forged a 50-run partnership to take them above the 150 mark as the home side tired in the field. Mistakes started to creep in for Limerick with the batting side pushing up and above 200 for their total, despite being 80-4 not so long ago. Sarfraz Ramay was the pick of the bowlers for Limerick, his figures of 2-33 from 9 overs, which included two maidens, put the brakes on the away side’s innings at crucial stages.
Chasing 209 meant Limerick had to sustain a decent run-rate without losing too many wickets, an ever uphill task especially when it is your first bat of the season. Nonetheless, opener Yogesh Borghare, enjoying his fifth season at the club, played some nice touches without any big hits to ease himself into things.
He was accompanied by youngster Ayan Ullah at 19-2. Borghare pulled straight down the throat of deep square-leg at 63-3, but his well-made 25 gave a platform to Ullah who anchored the innings with the desired patience. Wickets fell around Ullah but the 14-year old held firm to carve out a timely half-century as Limerick pushed above the 150-run mark.
Limerick would lose two quick wickets in the form of Dharmesh Patel (28) and Ayan Ullah (53) with 156 runs on the board. Some quick running between the wickets negated the run-rate which had gone just above eight runs an over, with some thrilling pieces of action in the middle.
A tense finish ensued with some frantic fielding, the end of the match had it all- overthrows, dropped catches, controversy, you name it! It would be Sumukh Venkatesh (15*) and Stephen Hackett (18*) to see Limerick over the line and clinch a 3-wicket victory for the Shannonsiders.
RESULT| MCU Division One.
Limerick defeated Cork County by 3 wickets.
Cork County 2: 208-8 off 45 overs.
Sarfraz Ramay 2-33
Ramoji Alla 2-45
Limerick 2: 209-7 off 44.3 overs.
Ayan Ullah 53
Dharmesh Patel 28
Next weekend sees all four teams in action as well as the start of the youth season. In the MCU Premier League, Limerick’s 1st XI will take on County Galway in what is sure to be a tasty opener in Adare. The 2nd XI will look to make it two from two when they host rivals Limerick Blasters on Saturday. In Div 2 and 3, the 3rd XI will also take on the Blasters with the 4ths making the trip to the Oyster Oval to take on County Kerry.
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