Records smashed in Dundalk CC Firsts T20
Dundalk Thirds and Firsts came away with sizeable victories in a bumper bank holiday weekend
T20 Junior Cup - Dundalk 1: 224/4 (20 ov) Yash 93, Umesh 2-19; Naas 1: 56 (11.5 ov) Sameer 16, Tayyab 7-14; Dundalk won by 168 runs
T20 Minor Cup - Finglas 3: 155/7 (20 ov) Abilash 30*, Prashant 2-19; Dundalk 2: 69/6 (14.2 ov) Binu 14*, Siju 2-11; Match abandoned due to rain
T20 Adamstown Cup - Dundalk 3: 122/9 (20 ov) Kapil 64*, Morris 4-10; Rush 4: 123/3 (16.2 ov) A. Jose 39, Keshav 1-21; Rush won by 7 wickets
Division 17A - Dundalk 3: 254/9 (40 ov) Sourav 39, Uzair 3-17; Swords 6: 184 (32.6 ov) Varun 38, Emran 3-35; Dundalk won by 70 runs.
Dundalk Thirds and Firsts came away with sizeable victories in a bumper bank holiday weekend of cricket across the province.
All three senior teams were in T20 cup action but Saturday saw Dundalk Thirds win dominantly in the league away to Swords Sixths at Ringcommons.
A number of the town’s batting lineup returned healthy scores and were aided by a plethora of Swords extras, putting a season-high total of 254 on the board.
The home team spent most of the chase playing catch-up, sitting 6 wickets down at drinks for under 100 runs. Dundalk got the four wickets they needed after the break to complete a comfortable 70-run win.
Sunday was less forgiving as both the Seconds and Thirds were stopped in their tracks in their respective cup ties – the Seconds by heavy Dundalk downpours while chasing and the Thirds by a classy Rush outfit in sunny North Dublin.
Rush had Dundalk by the scruff of the neck in the first innings, four batters falling for ducks and the visitors a mere 30/7 after 9 overs.
A steely display from in-form Kapil Paija Pun followed, the Nepalese all-rounder partnering well with Dundalk’s last two tailenders for a fine knock of 64 not out to keep the town in the contest.
Defending 122 is an uphill battle in any T20 and on a fast outfield at Kenure Dundalk struggled in the field, succumbing by 7 wickets with 22 balls to spare.
Bank holiday Monday brought a big change of fortunes as the Firsts lifted spirits in a Hiney Park humbling of Naas Firsts, which saw many club records broken.
The visitors will have rued putting Dundalk into bat as opening talent Yash Verma and left-hander Qazi Khan combined for a 3rd-wicket partnership of 142, the highest T20 partnership in Dundalk history. Verma’s 93 off 56 balls is also the highest individual score ever in a Dundalk T20.
Naas never looked like reaching their 225 target and wickets fell quick and fast, with left-arm orthodox spinner Muhammad Tayyab stealing the show for Dundalk and claiming the club’s second-best ever bowling figures, with 7 dismissals for just 14 runs in a record 168-run win.
Next weekend’s league fixtures: Dundalk 1 v Tyrrelstown 3 (Division 11, Sun 17 May, home), Dundalk 2 v Ongar 2 (Division 16A, Sat 16 May, home).
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