MCU Division 3: Cork County 3 vs. Cork Harlequins 3-Match Report

Cork County 3 took on local rivals Harlequins 3 at the Mardyke on Saturday the 11th of August. The weather forecast was for light rain throughout the afternoon and the match which was scheduled to start at 1pm did not get underway until 2pm due to the rain.

When it did finally clear up the home side won the toss and chose to bowl first on the artificial wicket. Liam Hale(45) and Alex Deane(30) opened the batting for ‘Quins and County found it extremely hard to shift the two openers.

Seam bowlers Chris Goncalves and Narsa Renjarla(0-22) bowled four over spells each and uncharacteristically gave up a considerable amount of extras(12 wides and 3 no balls in the first eight overs).

The introduction of John Kelly(1-38) and Kevin O’Sullivan into the attack did stem the flow of extras but neither of the change bowlers could pick up the crucial first wicket.

Right-arm medium pacer Hassan Shulman(0-51) bowled one over before drinks which Harlequins reached on 88-0.

After the short drinks break Goncalves(3-35) returned from the City End and finally County picked up the first wicket of the innings, Hale falling lbw to the right arm seamer.

Things got even better for County when Alex Deane edged behind to ‘keeper Peter Barlow, again off Goncalves.

‘Quins danger man Mariusz Badenhert(0) was caught at cover just two balls later, Goncalves picking up his final wicket in his last over.

Harlequins captain Nick Smith(16) steadied the ship for the visitors and moved the score to 159-5 before top-edging to Ryan O’Connell at short fine-leg off Kelly.

’Quins Curtis Elcate reached his half century off 46 balls but was dismissed the very next delivery holing out to County vice-captain Kevin O’Sullivan at long off.

Kashit(1) soon followed Elcate back to the pavilion, bowled by James McCarthy in the 35th over. Harry Scannell(0*) and Kaleem(13*) saw it through for the Farmer’s Cross side, the visitors finishing on 190-6 from their 40 overs and setting Cork County a pretty daunting task.

County openers Paul McDowell(51) and Narsa Renjarla(10) started well with some good shots through the covers but a miscommunication between the two batsmen led to Renjarla being run out by a considerable distance.

Next in for County was big-hitter Bryn Nelmes(8) but he was also run out after he was sent back by McDowell.

McDowell then sent back Hassan Shulman after he had mistakenly called him through and Shulman was run out by half a pitch length.

County were in serious trouble but McDowell who had contributed to all three run outs did his best to forget his mistakes and reached his half-century with a single to fine-leg off Sennon Jones(1-18).

Despite the accurate bowling of Elcate(3-37), Kaleem(0-33) and Kingsley Jones(1-16) County had kept up with the run rate to this point.

However the wickets of James McCarthy(caught off K. Jones for 2) and Andrew Somerfield(bowled by S. Jones for 4) made it very difficult for the home side and the required rate crept up to 7 an over.

Paul McDowell was caught off Budenhert to end what had been an eventful time at the crease(3 run outs and a half century) and Peter Barlow(7) and John Kelly(28) attempted to drag County back into the game.

A massive no ball six from Kelly over mid-wicket off Allen(0-27) was followed soon after by a wicket, Barlow playing all around a straight one from Elcate and losing his middle stump.

Chris Goncalves followed Barlow back to the dressing room after the very next delivery had knocked back his off stump.

Kevin O’Sullivan negotiated the hat-trick ball safely, edging a fuller delivery from Elcate over the slip cordon for four.

A solid partnership from Kelly and O’Sullivan left Cork County just 44 runs from victory but any chance of victory was extinguished when what had been a fantastic innings from Kelly came to an end, the all-rounder lifting one to Kaleem at point.

Ryan O’Connell joined O’Sullivan at the crease and they stayed there for three overs until O’Connell was tricked by a slower one from Alex Deane and bowled for 2, Kevin O’Sullivan finishing 7 not out.

A brave effort from County 3 against the league’s second placed side leaves them fifth in the standings with four games left to play.

Tags: Cork County Cricket Club, cricket in Cork, Cricket Ireland, Irish Cricket, James McCarthy, John Kelly, Kevin O'Sullivan, Mardyke, Munster Cricket Union, Munster League Division 3, Narsa Renjarla