The Mardyke was the venue for Cork County’s clash with UCC in Division 2 on Saturday last. With both teams searching for their first league wins, this game was always going to be a competitive one. Kevin O’Sullivan won the toss for County and asked UCC to bat on what was a dry and bouncy wicket.
Justin McGurk and Barry O’Sullivan opened up for the home side and it was O’Sullivan who had immediate success, his first ball skied to mid-wicket where Paul McDowell took the catch.
McGurk also had early success when UCC ‘keeper Kevin Galvin shouldered arms to an inswinging yorker and was LBW. UCC were keen to avoid any further loss of wickets in the first ten overs and excellent bowling from the hosts’ openers meant that the students could not break the shackles.
The score had progressed to 16-2 when O’Sullivan struck again, UCC skipper Ali(11) edging to Peter Barlow at gully.
Chris Van Heerden replaced McGurk from the River End and he too found immediate success, clipping Sarwan’s leg stump to leave UCC 27-4 from 13 overs.
Barry O’Sullivan(3-20) finished his spell as he had started it, Risvi cutting straight to Kevin O’Sullivan at point.
UCC were in disarray at this point and Van Heerden picked up his second wicket of the day when Shukdal failed to pick the inwsinger and was bowled.
Narsa Renjarla replaced O’Sullivan and took two wickets in quick succession, first Kaleem and then Sandeep having their off stumps knocked back.
Brian Kelleher took over from Van Heerden and became the third County bowler of the day to strike with his first ball, Nabeel castled for a duck.
Danyal and Nasir Khan kept County at bay for 6 overs but the home side were not to be denied a commanding position at the interval, Khan(4) eventually falling to Narsa Renjarla.
UCC were all out for 69 in 28 overs, a terrific performance by all the Cork County bowlers, and a performance which they hoped their batsmen could take advantage of.
As it was only two o’clock tea was delayed and Ali Khan and Paul McDowell walked out to face the new ball. Progress was slow and the score was just seven when Khan was bowled by Sarwan.
Peter Barlow joined McDowell and both batsmen played conservatively, watchfully seeing off the opening the bowlers. Cork County had moved to within 35 runs of victory when Barlow(10) was caught at slip off the bowling of Ifthikar.
Aidan Kelleher was the new man in and wasted no time upping the run rate, a chest-high no ball dispatched for six over long on. Despite the efforts of the UCC bowling attack, the home side edged towards victory and reached the target in the 25th over, giving County a comprehensive 8 wicket, a win which they will hope to build on in the coming months.
Tags: Cork County Cricket Club, cricket in Cork, Mardyke, Munster League Division 2