Shakeel strikes as Dundalk Seconds win again

Minor Cup – Group D

Dundalk 2: 146/4 (20 ov) S. Qamar 50*, Scully 2-28

Leinster 6: 92 (18.1 ov) Shabib 26, Giggins 4-18

Dundalk won by 54 runs

Adamstown Cup – Group A

County Cavan 3: 35/1 (8 ov) Amal 13*, Revidu 1-21

Dundalk 3: 0/0 (0 ov)

Match abandoned due to rain

Division 16A

Dundalk 2: 101/7 (23 ov) Shibu 42*, Karan 3-14

Athlone 3: 0/0 (0 ov)

Match abandoned due to rain

Shakeel Qamar hit his first career fifty in a pivotal opening knock as Dundalk Seconds’ fine T20 form continued against Leinster Sixths last Saturday.

The milestone capped off a week to remember for the Qamar family as Shakeel’s brother Raheel also had his maiden half-century five days prior in Malahide.

The Pakistani duo opened the batting as Leinster put Dundalk in to bat, sharing a 49-run partnership before Raheel was caught behind.

Shakeel held firm and was helped well at the other end by skipper Govind Patil and later Binu Sekara as the town posted a respectable 146/4.

It was a trial by spin for the chasing visitors as first-team regular Liam Giggins and Afghan leg-break bowler Lutfullah Sediqi were both economical for their combined 6 wickets.

Left-arm off-spinner Giggins took the first four wickets before Binu Sekara dismissed stubborn keeper-opener Alok Jadhav to leave Leinster 60/5 and in trouble.

Sekara would later effect a direct-hit run out while Ankit Pareek took the final wicket as the hosts won by a comfortable 54 runs to go second in Group D.

This was the only result of the weekend as the Seconds, back in league action on Sunday 7th, were rained off after making the four-hour round trip to Doon to face Athlone 3.

Batting first in a 30-over reduced match, Shibu Uthaman and Siraj Sherzad managed a 70-run stand in challenging conditions and played sensibly after a top-order collapse.

Uthaman was unlucky to be denied a chance at a ninth career 50 as puddles formed in the outfield after 23 overs, forcing the players off.

Dundalk Thirds saw even worse weather at Swellan Park, only getting 8 overs of action in on Saturday 6th in their cup tie away to County Cavan Thirds.

Sri Lankan swing bowler Revidu Liyanage took the only wicket of the game before heavy rain came in and the points were shared.

Next weekend’s league fixtures: Dundalk 1 v Terenure 3 (Division 11, Sun 21 Jun, home), Dundalk 2 v Knockharley 3 (Division 16A, Sat 20 Jun, home), Ongar 3 v Dundalk 3 (Adamstown T20 Cup, Sat 20 Jun, away).

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