Sat 22 Aug – Division 11 Wicklow County 1: 148 (31.2 ov) Vishal 56, Siraj 4-38 Dundalk 1: 153/6 (30.1 ov) Sakhi 62, Fusco 2-0 Dundalk won by 4 wickets Sat 22 Aug – Division 16A Dundalk 2: 102 (36.1 ov) Ankit 26, Ali 3-16 Knockharley 3: 108/4 (19.4 ov) Wahaj 60*, Ankit 2-12 Knockharley won by 6 wickets Sun 23 Aug – Division 17A Dundalk 3: 236/6 (40 ov) Sanu 72*, Kandasamy 3-65 Adamstown 10: 236/9 (40 ov) Rafiq 75, Sanu 2-32 Match tied All three Dundalk teams achieved all three possible results last weekend in their Leinster league fixtures, with the first team coming away with the sole victory.
The long away trip to Presentation College Bray was worthwhile for Syed Ibnan’s side, who put Wicklow County in to bat first and limited the hosts to just 148. Wicklow opener Vishal Sharma provided the greatest threat with the bat but his 56-run contribution was sizeably better than could be managed by any of his teammates. Youth pacer Siraj Sherzad was the pick of the bowlers for the town, taking career-best figures of 4-38 (all caught) in his 26th appearance for the club.
Dundalk wicketkeeper Sakhi Jan led well from the top of the order, grabbing a 14th career fifty as the visitors comfortably chased down their target with 9 overs to spare. On the same afternoon in Kentstown, Co. Meath, Dundalk 2 had less luck against high-flying Knockharley 3, who raced to their 103-run target before the second-innings drinks break thanks to a blistering 60* off 31 balls from number 2 Wahaj Butt.
Dundalk all-rounder Ankit Pareek provided the best resistance
Dundalk all-rounder Ankit Pareek provided the best resistance with bat and ball in a challenging away fixture for Govind Patil’s team, who now sit in 7th place in Division 16A. The sole home match of the weekend was action-packed and nervy till the last ball, with Division 17A leaders Adamstown 10 and Dundalk 3 playing out an incredible 236-apiece tied game, the second tie in Dundalk CC history after the Seconds finished level with Athlone 3 earlier this summer.
After several 20-plus knocks in the middle order, ever-reliable Sanu Xavier made a powerful 36-ball cameo at the back end of the innings, striking at 200 to score 72 not out (his second half-century in a row). Adamstown batted strongly in the chase but the hosts continued to threaten with the ball, with six different Dundalk bowlers taking a wicket. The man of the moment Xavier bowled well at the death, picking up a brace and braving the nail-biting final over, the final Adamstown pair scampering through for two off the last ball to leave the scores deadlocked after a full 80 overs of cricket in the Carrick Road sunshine.
Be sure to tune in next week for a full report on Dundalk 1’s T20 cup final in St. Catherine’s Park, Lucan against Swords 2 this coming Saturday. Next weekend’s league fixtures: Dundalk 1 v Swords 2 (T20 Junior Cup Final, Sat 29 Aug, neutral venue), Ongar 2 v Dundalk 2 (Division 16A, Sat 29 Aug, away), North Kildare 6 v Dundalk 3 (Division 17A, Sat 29 Aug, away), Dundalk 1 v Wicklow County 1 (Division 11, Sun 30 Aug, home).
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Source: www.dundalkdemocrat.ie
