Dundalk Cricket Club get their season underway

Dundalk Cricket Club 2nd XI at Rush. Back row l-r: Louise Challoner, John Finnegan (capt) Gerry McKeever, Scott McDonnell, Lithin Mathew, Jack Kerry, Peter Phillips. Front row l-r: Dherek Mhlanga, Eddie Bosano-Andrews, Walid Shaheed, Michael Mullen

The cricket season is now well and truly under-way for Dundalk and the two senior teams are experiencing a two very different starts.

The club’s ground has undergone a major revamp for the 2014 season with the installation of an artificial pitch on the oval, this brings them in line with the majority of Leinster clubs and is a sure sign of a commitment to the game in the town.

The 2nd XI kicked things off at the start of the season with an away match to Rush 4  on Saturday 26th April, this was the 2nds first season in Division 13 having been relegated last year after spending two seasons in Division 12.

Rush having won the toss chose to bat first and posted an impressive 283 for 5 wickets, although this was a tough prospect for the 2nds they responded well with a 153 all out, this was a high score for the 2nds and considering there were a number of new members plus the quality of the opposition faced (which included some former and current under age Ireland internationals) it can be considered a respectable effort.

The 1st XI kicked off their season the next day 27th April, this again was an away match this time against Malahide 4 at the new International Cricket ground in Malahide Castle. Malahide batted first and through a combination of bowling and fielding skills the 1sts managed to have them all out for 198, a score that should have been well within reach of a team that hold two Leinster titles. Unfortunately poor batting let down the 1sts and they were skittled for 40 all out, a very bad start to the season which can only be attributed to lack of practice.

The 1st XI’s first home match on the new surface took place the following weekend on Saturday 3rd May against Meath neighbours Knockharley 2, the 1st XI in an effort to take home advantage batted first but once again posted a very low score for a senior team at this level being all out for 88, a marginal improvement on the previous week but still not good enough. The visitors then had an easy time of it and were able to knock of the required runs in around half the allotted overs and were easy winners at 92 for 6.

The 1sts next match was to have taken place against YMCA 4 on Sunday 11th May at home but was cancelled due to the road restrictions caused by the Giro. The team are currently sitting at 8th place out of 9 in Division 8, unfamiliar territory and one needing some serious improvement.

The next matches for the 2nd XI couldn’t be more of a contrast, commitment and practice have paid off in spades. the 2nds next match was at home against the much fancied Adamstown 4.

Adamstown chose to bat first and some spectacular bowling and fielding had them all out for a remarkable 39 runs !.

In responding Dundalk’s second team were able to knock of the required runs in only 9.4 overs scoring 92 for the loss of only two wickets, a remarkable 8 wicket win as short a time as possible.

Riding the momentum the 2nds next match was again at home on Saturday 10th May against Dundrum 3, again a much fancied team from one of the newer clubs, things were a little tighter this time around but the 2nds managed another victory by 10 runs.

In three matches the 2nds have equalled the number of wins for the whole of last season and they currently site at number 5 out of 9 in Division 13, if things carry on at this rate they must be serious contenders for a Leinster title in 2014.

The next matches for both teams are:

1st XI

2nd XI