LIMERICK VS NENAGH 14/7/12
Limerick made hard work of chasing a small total in Adare but managed to squeeze past Nenagh to advance to the Junior Cup Semi-Finals. Nenagh were all out for 109 after just 24.3 overs. Limerick managed to chase the total in 24.1 overs but managed to lose 7 wickets on the way to set up a nervy conclusion.
After heavy rain had fallen during the week a bowl off looked extremely likely and standing water was present in large areas of the pitch. However thanks to the efforts of the lads, namely Hashir and Tahir, bucketful’s of water were taken off the pitch and a match was able to go ahead but was reduced to 36 overs a side. Having won the toss Nenagh decided to bat first.
Due to some erratic bowling by Limerick Nenagh quickly moved onto 9 before Fassy Ifthikar Ahmed trapped Mathew LBW for 0. Fassy tied down his end and created pressure but at the other end Tom Paul was in good form, hitting 2 sixes, one down to backward square leg and one over mid wicket. A change of bowling quickly brought a wicket though with Asif Shahab getting an easy chance returned to him by Chris Lynd after he tried to work it into the leg side and only managed a miscue. A twenty run partnership between Jojin and Tom Paul returned Nenagh to the driving seat as they reached 41-2 before Tahir took the wicket of Tom Paul as he cleaned bowled him for a well made 22 from 28 balls.
Naoise Brooke could only manage a golden duck as he was clean bowled first ball by Fassy and suddenly Nenagh went from 41-2 to 43-4 and Limerick then looked like favourites. However in another twist a 38 run partnership between Sreenivas and Jojin levelled the balance of the game through a mixture of wides and big shots from Sreenivas. However, when Jojin went for the big shot off Asif's bowling he could only find Fassy at mid on. 81-5.
However wickets had been falling around Sreenivas, thanks to Hashir Sultan's hostile bowling. Shane Burke clung onto one at the second attempt at first slip after being caught napping. Anulal was Hashir's next victim and he again nicked behind but it was Nigel Aspinall this time who took a magnificent catch behind the stumps diving one handed to dismiss Anulal for 0.
With that Sreenivas exploded. Taking a fancy for Asif he managed to smack sixes and fours, ruining Asif's figures which had been good until then. But it was Asif who had the last laugh, Sreenivas went for one big shot too many and could only hole out to Samar who managed to cling on at mid wicket.
With Sreenivas gone the tail folded to Hashir as he first dismissed Tiju who was trapped LBW and then clean bowled Jijo for 0. A good performance with the ball for Limerick but again Wides was the top scorer for the opposition with 38 runs coming cheaply.
After a healthy, filling lunch and a couple of burns Limerick attempted to chase down Nenagh's total. Tahir Saqib and Nigel opened the batting and began to make steady inroads into Nenagh's total, Tahir going on the attack and Nigel supporting well. Tahir took great affection to Anulal ( <3 ) and hit him for sixes straight back over his head and into cow corner. Nigel supported well by mixing defence with aggression and the score quickly moved on to 38 before Tahir took a lunge and tried for another 6, however he missed the ball and lost his middle stump to Jomy yet scored an impressive 23 off just 18 balls. Limerick lost another wicket without scoring as Sreenivas continued to play well and Nigel was caught at point for 10.
Hashir and Shane then steadied nerves by adding a 30 run partnership with Hashir hitting 2 monstrous sixes down the ground and Shane really rotating the strike well, playing calmly and sensibly, just what Limerick needed in that situation. It was Anulal who struck though as Hashir was bowled for 15 going for another maximum. Muhammed Javeed was next to fall as he mis-read the line Jojin was bowling and was clean bowled. Samar came and went quickly as he too was also bowled on the defensive but not keeping out Sreenivas.
At this stage Limerick were 86-5 and nerves were starting to jangle before Fassy joined Shane at the crease. Fassy immediately went on the counter and began hitting out in an attempt to finish the innings and despite losing Shane who was dismissed by Sreenivas who again found the stumps he pushed the score quickly on. There was still time for John Daly to make his first duck of the season but Fassy finished the game in style, smashing a 6 into the cow corner area to send Limerick through to the semi-finals.
A nervy game then for Limerick as they were pushed to the end by Nenagh but in the end squeaked a win.
Special Mentions :
Wides for his outstanding contribution to Nenagh, something Limerick will have to improve on for the rest of the season.
M(an)OTM : Hashir for his top notch bowling figures ( 4.3 overs 2 maidens 4-5 ) and his powerful batting display and vital partnership with Shane.
M(ug)OTM : Kevin Hennessy for managing to fall over twice in the space of 3 metres.
M(oment)OTM : Fassy's huge six to finish the game and put Limerick through to the semi's.
You stay classy San Diego,
John Daly.