Cork County entertained Cork Harlequins in the first of three Senior T20’s on Thursday evening. ‘Quins won the toss and opted to bat first. After an opening over from Hugh O’Brien(2-35) which yielded 13, the visitors lost their first wicket; Sunil Nagaraji driving to Robert Duggan at cover off the bowling of Kevin O’Sullivan.
Conor Andrew joined Alex Deane, took a single and watched as Deane pulled O’Sullivan to the mid-wicket boundary. After a tight over from O’Brien, Conor Andrew was caught behind attempting to reverse sweep. Junaid Ayub joined Deane but lasted only one ball, well held by Brian Kelleher at extra cover off O’Sullivan.
Robert Duggan replaced O’Brien and picked up a wicket in his first over, Zuhair Shah holing out at long on. Alex Deane was next to depart, lofting to Aidan Kelleher at long on to give O’Sullivan(4-22) his final wicket.
Brian Kelleher replaced Duggan and despite failing to pick up a wicket created a number of chances. Will Doyle and Cian Scannell rebuilt the Harlequins innings and the score had reached 106 before the next wicket fell, Scannell caught at long off by Hugh O’Brien, Oscar Cotter(2-11) picking up the wicket.
Doyle(40) was the seventh wicket to fall, Stephan Grobler taking a fantastic catch at mid-off to leave the away side 117-7 with 4 overs remaining. Andrew O’Reilly joined Siva Chimnesay at the crease but was bowled four deliveries later by Hugh O’Brien, who then also picked up the wicket of Dave Peet, caught at deep cover by Robert Duggan.
Azher and Chimnesay added 13 before the innings closed, Harlequins making 142-9 from their allocation.
Andy Wootton and Stephan Grobler opened the batting for the hosts but Wootton was soon back in the pavilion, adjudged LBW to the bowling of Will Doyle. Ross Durity joined Grobler and the pair added a quickfire 23 before Grobler was caught by Siva Chimnesay at mid-off.
Robert Duggan lofted Shah back over his head for four before being caught by Andrew O’Reilly at mid-wicket. At 28-3 County needed a good partnership and they got one, Aidan Kelleher and Ross Durity displaying a fine array of attacking shots and aggressive running to leave the hosts within ten runs of victory with three overs remaining.
Durity pulled the first ball of the 17th over into the trees for six to bring up his half-century and the game was over five deliveries later when Zuhair Shah conceded a wide. A brilliant batting display from Durity and Kelleher saw County take a one-nil lead in the series with game two to be played in Farmers Cross next week.