Cork County put in a dominant display against County Kerry to clinch the 2016 Senior Shield by 7 wickets at the Mardyke on Saturday, 13th August. The Cork side had come into the Final decider in excellent form in both Munster and Leinster league competitions.

The Final of this early season round robin competition has been delayed due fixture conjestion following two Semi-Final fixtures in late April.

County Kerry won the toss in the decider and decided to bat first in humid conditions at the Mardyke. Despite some frantic stroke play from Usman Khan early on, the County seam attack of Bilal Bhatti, Junaid Amin and Brian Kelleher kept the run rate from the men from The Kingdom in check.

A patient 33 from Owais Bacha kept the incisive probing from the County bowlers at bay but once he was stumped by Coleman off the leg spin of Grobler then the they turned the screw despite some defiance from Sohail (22). Eventually County Kerry were bowled out for 138 in the 38th over.

In response, the County openers of Ian Coleman (29) and Mubeen Ali set about their task with purpose by taking the attack to the Kerry opening seam attack of Shani Alam and K Khan. The high being a 6 over deep square leg from Coleman off the bowling of Kerry pace man Khan.

In form Cork County batsman Ross Durity (41*) continued the where Coleman and Mubeen had left off and despite the loss of Hassett to an ill judged run saw County home to a 7 wicket victory with Duggan at the finish.

2016 Senior Shield Final

13th August, The Mardyke.

Cork County 139-3 (Durity 41*, Mubeen 41, Coleman 29) beat County Kerry 138 all out (Bacha 33, Grobler 4-15, O’Sullivan 3-18) by 7 wickets.