Cork County returned to local action after last weekend’s double header in Dublin as they took on Midleton in Munster League Division 1 at the Mardyke. County were in confident mood after a well deserved emphatic win against Dublin University on the previous Sunday and with temperatures reaching the mid twenties and not a cloud in the sky conditions were almost perfect for cricket at the Mardyke. County were still without the services of vice Captain Ross Durity (broken finger) and lost middle order batsman Matt Reed to a back problem, however, opening bowler Parvez Ali was returning to the fold after his own injury problems.
Midleton skipper Clinton Laverty won the toss and decided to have a bat with conditions seemingly set fair for batting. With the return of Parvez Ali, the Cork County bowling attack was looking quite strong as he complimented in form Bruce Koch along with James Duggan, Ciarán Healy and skipper Robert Duggan. 
The Cork County opening bowlers Duggan and Ali bowled with great control and aggression as they gave the Midleton opening pair Mohammadi and Finn a torrid time limiting the Midleton run-rate to less than two runs an over after 6. Duggan deservedly took the wicket of Mohammadi as he drove a ball directly into the hands of Ciarán Healy at mid-off. Midleton danger man Dean Wilson soon followed after being caught LBW by Duggan. The other opening batsman Finn continued to frustrate the County bowlers as he played and missed regularly however he was eventually caught in his crease by a Yorker from Parvez Ali and was adjudged LBW. After the introduction of some off-spin from Ciarán Healy, the wickets of Whittaker and Gomesz soon followed as they both holed out to mid-off and long-on, respectively. A brief cameo from young Midleton batsman Liam Noone (26 runs) provided some rest bite and pushed the Midleton total towards 100 but with the introduction of South African paceman Bruce Koch into the attack he soon was caught behind by Chris Banon. The Midleton tail soon capitulated Koch taking a further three wickets to bring his tally to 4 for the match and skipper Duggan took the final wicket of Managuruge to leave County chasing a target of 103 runs to win.
Without regular openers, Ross Durity and Andrew Wootton, County kept faith with Mirza Baig at the top of the order after his impressive knock against Trinity the previous week and also gave young all-rounder Kevin Bray a go at opening the innings. The early conditions proved difficult with the Midleton bowlers, Laverty in particular, getting a lot of swing movement and also some variable bounce from the foot marks of Cork County’s James Duggan. Baig some found his rhythm and played some lovely shots off his legs and down the ground off the bowling of Dean Wilson. Bray was providing solid defence at the other end but he fell to an inside edge off the bowling of Laverty. Robert Duggan replaced Bray at the crease and took his time to get used to the bowler friendly conditions. 
Mirza Baig let his confidence get the better of him as he tried to play another shot down the ground off the bowling of Midelton first change Managuruge and was bowled. Bruce Koch replaced Baig at the crease and set about closing off the game in partnership with Duggan. Koch’s good form continued as he soon started timing some lovely shots to both the off and leg sides but early on was unfortunate enough to pick out the fielders. Duggan departed for just 13 after he was caught behind off the bowling of Managuruge after he played at a short ball which rose off the pitch a bit more then he thought. Young in form batsman Chris Banon replaced the skipper and was soon into his stride with some great shots off his legs and down the ground. Koch soon joined in and managed to reverse sweep a ball from young leg spinner Oliver Ind for 4. With County closing in on a convincing win against the East Cork side Koch was determined to finish the match off in style by smashing medium pacer John Noone into the clubhouse for a huge 6. Koch finished the match on 37 not out and Banon finished on 15 not out resulting in a 7 wicket victory for the Mardyke side as they returned to the top of the Division 1 table.
Cork County team: R. Duggan*, B. Koch, C. Banon†, J. Duggan, P. Ali, M.J. Wycherley, C. Healy, M. Baig, B. Morgan, K. Bray & R. Durity.
Sunday May 23rd:
Cork County 106-3 beat Midleton 102 all out by 7 wickets at the Mardyke. scorecard
