Cork County suffered their second successive defeat in Division 1 after they went down to the league’s bottom side Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). The defeat follows on from their narrow loss at the Mardyke to Limerick Raiders the previous weekend which opens up the Division 1 title chase. County were without this season’s star man Bruce Koch, experienced seamer Keith Banks and both Ross Durity and Andrew Saul due to unavailability. It was Cork County’s first visit to the Waterford venue which didn’t appear to be up to senior standard lacking some basic facilities and cricket equipment.
County skipper Robert Duggan won the toss and decided to bowl hoping to dismiss the Waterford side for a low total. James Duggan took the early Haq Nawaz and he was soon followed by Naveed. County took wickets at regular intervals with Andrew Wootton finishing with figures of 2-34 off 10 and Noelie Cronin with 2-39 off 6. However some poor bowling by the others in the County attack allowed WIT to creep towards 250 with Nasir Mohammed (46) and Sunil Sherawat (51) being the principal run makers in the WIT lineup.
Cork County’s reply got off to a swift start with Andrew Wootton striking some typically big bowls off his legs and down the ground but yet again his innings came to a premature end when he was trapped LBW by Haq Nawaz. Des O’Leary on his return to the first XI opened the batting and showed great patience and composure early on as he work the ball well off his legs and down the ground. Robert Duggan joined O’Leary at the crease after Wootton’s departure and the two consolidated the innings well and dampened the early Waterford enthusiasm. Seemingly in total control and set for a big score O’Leary decided to play a lofted drive down the ground straight into the hands of long-off for 22 runs. In form batsman Chris Banon, having scored 101 not out for the 2nd XI against Harlequins the previous day, entered the fray and took his time to get accustomed to the quite bouncy artificial. With Cork County on 154-2 and on course for hard fought victory, Duggan was dubiously adjudged LBW by umpire Ger O’Sullivan following a defensive shot against Hussain having made a large stride down the wicket. Duggan’s departure was swiftly followed by middle order batsmen Michael John Wycherley, Darren Fogarty and Mirza Baig all of whom were bowled by off-break bowler Hari Ramshetty. This mid order collapse put huge pressure on young starlet Banon who attempted to take most of the strike in order to push County towards victory. However as Banon continued to lose partners with Parvez Ali was also dubiously adjudged LBW, he attempted loft a shot over cover-point but mistimed it directly into the fielders hands. With Banon’s departure County’s hopes of victory fizzled out also and tail-ender James Duggan was the final man to be dismissed condemning the Mardyke side to a surprise defeat and second in as many weeks.
Cork County remain top of Division 1 following Cork Harlequins surprise 5 wicket defeat to Midleton at Midleton College, leaving the Farmers Cross side 9 points adrift of County. The two sides were due to face each other this coming weekend at Farmers Cross but the fixture has been bizarrely postponed without justifiable explanation. Just to note that on the same day Phoenix CC will be competing in the Leinster league Division 2.
Love the unbiased 😉 but undoubtedly true commentary
bit harsh to have a go at the facilities in waterford lads. Cricket is on the rise in munster and needs encouragement not negativity. These things will take time and will improve as time goes on.