Dundalk Firsts Cup opener ends in defeat

Dundalk 1: 109/8 (20 ov) Syed 50, Chintaparthi 3-9

Malahide 5 won by 36 runs

Dundalk firsts’ T20 ED Sports Cup campaign began with a home defeat to lower-league Malahide 5. The Division 13 visitors were put in to bat at Hiney Park as Dundalk won the toss.

It took until the 12th over for the hosts to make their mark, eventually running out both the Malahide openers to end a 95-run partnership and a half-century from Bhanu Gokarla.

Another wicket followed immediately afterwards, with a catch off the bowling of Prashant Nair giving Dundalk hope of limiting the target.

48 more runs followed in the final 7 overs, leaving the town a target of 146 to win. Dundalk skipper Syed played a great knock after a patient start to bring up a 50 of his own, but unfortunately nobody could hang in there with him for long enough; the rest of the top and middle order managed just 26 runs between them.

Perhaps distracted by a fire that began burning in the neighbouring field, Dundalk’s tailenders couldn’t get over the line and now sit bottom of group D. They will hope to climb the table as they travel to Swords for game two on June 2nd.

Seconds win again in Cup

Dundalk 2: 121-5 (20 ov) George 50*, Rana 3-10

Sandyford 4: 107/9 (20 ov) Sridharan 32, Nair 3-18

Dundalk 2 won by 14 runs

Dundalk’s seconds pulled off another victory in the T20 Minor Cup with a narrow win at home to Sandyford 4. Batting first, the town lost wickets early on with Michael Hughes and Kapil Pun falling in the first four overs.

The ship was steadied with the introduction of in-form Shibu Uthaman at number 4, scoring 40 and combining brilliantly with opener Jins George for a 64-run partnership.

Jins went on to carry his bat and scored 50*, but Dundalk still had a job to do defending just 121. Thankfully, Dundalk got the wickets they needed and stunted Sandyford’s progress throughout their innings.

Prashant Nair did well to dismiss the visitors’ top three, but the highlight of the innings was probably Alen Shaji’s triple-wicket maiden in the 18th over which cleaned up the tailenders and put Dundalk well on course to go for the win, which they managed by just 14 runs.

Next up for the seconds is another T20 at home to Mullingar 3 on the 1st. Interested in getting involved in cricket? Visit www.dundalkcricket.com or email [email protected]