County were pipped narrowly by Clontarf on the penultimate ball of the game on matchday 2 of the Leinster Championship with the home side unable to defend their total of 229 at the Mardyke.
Cork batted first and were in trouble early. Jose George went for 2 bowled by Shariful Islam. One run later, Ross Durity was caught by Macalister Wright again off the bowling of Islam. Cork 2-11 in the third over. Cormac Hassett and Brandon Kruger brought the score to 60 before Hassett was bowled by Macalister Wright for 22. Jeremy Benton joined Kruger for the biggest partnership of the innings.
They had put on 75 when Kruger was caught by Andrew Vincent from the bowling of David Vincent for 41. 15 runs later Jeremy Benton who made an excellent 50, went the same way as Kruger, again caught by Andrew Vincent off the bowling of David Vincent. It was then time for the Shariful Islam show. Harvey Wootton was bowled by Islam for 0. Aaron Cawley fell lbw to Islam for 4. Anthony O’Reilly was bowled by Islam for 5.
Muhammad Zuhair Shah was run out by Islam for 17. Kevin O’Sullivan remained not out 2. All through the Islam mayhem, Robert Duggan fought the good fight, he was left stranded on 46 at the end. Cork ending up 221 for 9.
Clontarf’s bowling was dominated by Shariful Islam who took 5-40, David Vincent 2-37and Macalister Wright 1-26 the other wicket takers.
Clontarf Openers Andrew Delany and Robert Forrest batted well. they had put on 46 before Delany fell to Robert Duggan, caught by Cormac Hassett for 14. Eoghan Delany made 15 when he fell to Brandon Kruger, caught by Jeremy Benton. Macalister Wright joined Robert Forest and the pair battle hard to put on 97 in 18 overs before Forest Fell for a fine 84 with 7 fours and 1 six.
The next nine overs only produced 28 runs, after which Andrew Vincent was run out by Jeremy Benton for 14. Macalister Wright went soon after for an excellent 55 with 2 fours and 2 sixes, lbw to Kevin O’Sullivan. A slight wobble. Conor Gallagher at the crease. Shariful Islam couldn’t produce the fireworks he did on the field and went caught Hassett bowled by Kevin O’Sullivan for 2. David Vincent went soon afterwards caught Duggan again bowled by O’Sullivan for 5. Things getting a little tight at that stage with over running out. But Kevin Prior 2 not out and Conor Gallagher 22 not out from 26 guided Tarf home, just.
Cork bowled gallantly but just failed to defend their total, but extras didn’t help. Kevin O’Sullivan with 3-14 starred. Brandon Kruger 2-48 and Robert Duggan 1-63 also took wickets. The heroics of Shariful Islam with the ball giving Clontarf a close 3 wicket victory.
Leinster Championship
Cork County 229-9 (Benton 50, Duggan 46, Kruger 41, Islam 5-40) lost to Clontarf 232-7 (Forrest 84, Wright 55, O’Sullivan 3-14) by 3 wickets at the Mardyke. scorecard
(source: cricketeurope.com)
