As the top of season approaches, the fortunes of County Kerry Cricket Membership stay blended at finest. The 2nd XI have propped up the Munster Division 1 desk for many of the season, however the Seniors and the third XI maintain robust positions of their respective leagues. For the Senior squad, with three matches remaining, capturing silverware means they have to beat each Cork County and Harlequins, who together with Kerry at present make up the highest three. Championships don’t come straightforward!
MCU PREMIER DIVISION
The Senior squad travelled to Midleton on Sunday, the place a rain affected pitch led to a discount from 50 overs per facet to 38. Kerry posted 165 thanks primarily to a captain’s innings of 45 from Yaqoob Ali; Monil Patel (24) offering the one different innings of word. Kashif Javed brought about most issue for the Kerry batters, he took 4 for 19 off 8 overs and was the principle impediment that prevented the guests from setting a extra sizeable goal.
However as is commonly the best way in rain affected matches, 165 proved to be greater than sufficient. Skipper Yaqoob Ali produced certainly one of his finest bowling performances for the membership, taking 5 wickets for 17 runs off 7 overs. Fairly remarkably, Imran Pathan, who opened the bowling alongside Yaqoob, additionally took a 5 wicket haul. It is an especially uncommon achievement in cricket for 2 bowlers to take 5 wickets every.
Imran’s 7.3-0-49 -5 included taking Midleton’s final two wickets with the second and third ball of his eighth and remaining over. In a mere 16 overs, Midleton have been dismissed for 75, handing a 90 run victory to Kerry.
Kerry 1st XI: 165 for 9, beat Midleton 1st XI: 75a.o. by 90 runs.
MCU DIVISION 2
Limerick third XI visited the Oyster Oval on Sunday and have been invited to bat first. Navroop Johnson, a former Kerry participant, smacked 4 6s and 7 4s on his option to a powerful 88. However solely Kumart (28) and Hegde (27) made substantial contributions as Limerick compiled a powerful par rating of 223. Stephen Jonnalagadda and Prince Thomas each picked up 3 wickets for Kerry, and have been supported by glorious floor fielding from the entire squad.
Opening the batting within the run-chase Jonnalagadda and Kamran Muhammad obtained off to a flying begin racking up 45 off the primary 5 overs. However because of Shubham Poddar (7-0-51-5), Limerick struck again taking a flurry of wickets as Kerry added 70 runs to go away the rating evenly balanced on 115 for five.
Usman Butt stole the present dispatching six 6s and eleven fours in a whirlwind, 61 ball, century; dismissed on precisely 100, an astonishing 80 of these runs got here in boundary photographs. Kerry third XI gained by 4 wickets with 12 overs to spare.
Limerick third XI: 223a.o., misplaced to Kerry third XI: 225 for six, by 4 wickets.
Oystercatcher tackle Railway Union subsequent weekend
The Oystercatchers, Kerry’s new girls’s cricket crew, can be taking part in at Railway Union, Dublin on Sunday subsequent. This fixture is one other important milestone following laborious on the heels of their latest encounter with Pembroke women, this contest would be the Oystercatchers first away recreation in opposition to a longtime women crew. Chances are you’ll not get nice odds on a win for Kerry, however for the Oystercatchers, it’s nonetheless a really thrilling journey!