Defeat for Dundalk CC in final Game of 2025

Division 20 - Swords 5: 235/9 (30 ov) Sachin 94, Sumit 2-30; Dundalk 3: 154/6 (30 ov) Emran 44, Rajeev 3-21; Swords win by 81 runs.

Dundalk Cricket Club closed out their 2025 season Sunday last with a defeat as the club’s third team fell short of a high target away to Swords Fifths.

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The forecast for the day was poor and the captains decided on a reduced match of 30 overs a side. Keeper-captain Nixon Simon won the toss for Swords and elected to bat first.

Pace-bowling youth pair Siraj Sherzad and Mohammad Emran took early scalps with the ball but Dundalk struggled thereon in harsh blustery conditions at Newbridge Demesne, as Swords’ Sachin Shivraj and Vinoth Panneerselvam combined for 101 runs for the third wicket.

The town did manage to make headway towards the back end of the innings but it was too little too late, Swords closing out with an impressive 235 for 9.

The sun came out during the innings break and despite the high chase ahead the atmosphere was jovial in the Dundalk camp, safe in the knowledge that they had avoided relegation the week before.

Rajeev Ravi made life difficult for the visitors in the second innings, his pacey off-spin getting the better of stubborn Dundalk openers Pauric McCrum and Mohammed Bukhari.

Number four Mohammed Emran responded by hitting 44 runs at a 150-plus strike rate to bring Dundalk back into the game.

However, the looming target proved too steep a climb in the end as the visitors were 81 short at the 30-over mark, following a couple of cheap dismissals in the middle order.

Credit must go to Dundalk’s Raheel Qamar who closed out 2025 in style with a career-best 34 not out off 33 balls.

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