With a lack of competitive action this week, Dundalk Cricket Club took advantage of the summer weather to hold two friendly matches hosted in Dromiskin. On Friday night, they faced a Louth Hospitals XI while on Sunday, the Taverners took on the Theatrical Caveliers.
Louth Hospitals’ captain Sajan Jeyaseelan won the toss and elected to bat first. In a big-hitting innings, they made a grand total of 162 from their reduced 18 overs. Bilal and Jeewan Uragoda top scored scored with 41 and 32 each. The wickets were evenly shared between the Dundalk bowlers, with Jiwan Jodhani excelling as wicket-keeper, taking a remarkable 3 stumpings.
In response, Dundalk captain Waleed Shahid sent in Michael Mullen and Ian Chong to open the run chase. Mullen and Jodhani anchored the innings whilst keeping on top of the run rate and seemed to be setting the foundations for victory until Dundalk’s hopes were dashed as Jodhani was bowled in the 12th over by Sunjay Kumar. Despite Mullen pushing on to a swashbuckling 71 not out from under 50 balls, they fell just a few runs short of the total. All in all a very enjoyable night for everyone involved.
On Sunday, the Taverners team played the Theatrical Caveliers, a collective made up of cricketers involved in the performing arts. Played very amicably in the spirit of the game, the Caveleirs won out eventual winners by a dramatic 10 runs.
Electing to bowl first, Dundalk began brightly, with Brian Mullen and Anjani Bhandari taking early wickets, both enticing the batsmen to nick the ball to stand-in wicketkeeper Michael Mullen. Liam Gaynor completed the top-order carnage by removing Elliot Moriarty with a majestic diving catch. With wickets drying up, Dundalk needed a moment of brilliance to rejuvenate the innings, which came courtesy of a Daniel Chong direct-hit to run out Caveliers’ dangerman AJ O’Brien. After their allotted 25 overs, the Caveliers set a convincing total of 127.
Mullen opened the batting again, partnering Bhandari, both of whom kept the Caveliers on the edge until the latter fell in the 5th over. The scoreboard kept ticking over nicely for Dundalk with Gerry McKeever and Ulrich Ofterdinger at the crease. Unfortunately, Dundalk couldn’t reach the target and finished agonisingly close on 117.
Dundalk return to competitive action next week, having drawn Laois away in the quarter finals of the Dick O Neill cup. Youth training continues at the ground in Dromiskin on Tuesdays, 6-7.30. Senior training takes place 6-8.30 on Wednesdays, with everyone of all ages and abilities welcome. For more info, visit www.dundalkcricketclub.com or www.facebook.com/DCCYouths.
