Limerick got off to a dream start in the opening round of league games as cricket returned at junior, minor A and minor B level. Having endured a thin pre-season, heavily interrupted by weather, the Shannonsiders were up against it in round 1. Incidentally, both of Saturday’s games were also delayed due to rain, one of which was eventually abandoned.

In Division One, Limerick ran out winners against County Kerry by a comfortable margin of eight wickets. After winning the toss and electing to field, skipper Sumukh Venkatesh set a game plan to squeeze the opening overs of the Kerry innings with the view of chasing wickets later on in the game. A rapid start from Prasad Hegde and Ramoji Alla in the first ten saw just 21 runs on the board, despite the fall of just one wicket. Kerry were patient until rain fell just short of 14 overs which caused a two hour stoppage. When the teams returned, it was debutant Waqas Shinwari and Ajay Hari who put Kerry into deep trouble. With the game reduced to 35 overs, Kerry tried to up their run rate which played right into the hands of the home team.

As the middle order struggled to find boundaries, Kerry’s run rate remained low before somewhat of a procession ensued in the final 10 overs as Limerick took 7 wickets for 50 runs and held a strong finish.

Debutant Waqas Shinwari pictured with skipper Sumukh Venkatesh before his first game on Saturday.

Limerick wanted a solid opening with the bat and their numbers one and two Saurabh Teke and Nishant Kumar laid down a solid marker. Despite a close call for a cough behind early on, the two offered little chances as the life began to get sucked out of the Kerry field. Despite losing Teke after 8 overs, a solid rearguard at 3 from Asif Hussein meant Kerry were wicketless until the game was out of their hands. Mosawar Sidiqi came in at 4 to hit the winning runs, Limerick now top of the junior table heading into the second round.

RESULT| MCU Division One.

We defeated County Kerry by 8 wickets today.

County Kerry 2: 127-7 off 35 overs (reduced).

Ajay Hari 3-18

Asif Hussein 2-23

Limerick 2: 128-2 off 23.3 overs.

Nishant Kumar 51*

Asif Hussein 25

* * *

On the back of an eight-wicket victory, Limerick’s 3rd XI looked to round off an unbeaten weekend in division two against Nenagh on Sunday. Limerick were hit the heavy blow of losing captain Navroop Johnson before the game, so Nishant Kumar, off the back of a brilliant 50 the day before, stepped in to captain for the day.

This time round, Limerick would bat first and set a target for Nenagh 2nds as the players began to get used to the new mat in Adare. Kumar lead from the front again, opening the batting for his side and establishing another solid knock of 40 runs as others chipped in around him. The middle order then played their part, thwarting the Nenagh bowling with some delicate shots. After a small collapse, Limerick went from 63-4 to 120-6, taking advantage of some loose bowling from the away side’s attack. A target of 140 was finally set.

The Limerick 3rd team: (Top row, l-r) Prasad Hegde, Karthik Maniaraas, Waqas Mehmood, Nishant Kumar (Capt.), Kumar Divyesh, Laxman Prasad. (Bottom row, l-r) Christian Matthew, Tharun Bharathi, Shoaib Zazai, Mohan Krishnappa (wk), Prithiv Mohan.

With the ball, Limerick piled on the pressure early as the Nenagh batsmen couldn’t establish any partnerships. Bowling changes were executed at the right time by Kumar whose first and second change both brought wickets. Nenagh found themselves on 77-7 as Limerick proved too strong. Prasad Hegde came back into the attack to pick up another at 90-8. Afghani youngster Shoaib Zazai chipped in with his second of the day on 108-9 before a run out just a few overs later diminished any chances of a late comeback.

RESULT| MCU Division Two.

We defeated Nenagh by 24 runs today.

Limerick 3: 139 all out off

39.1 overs.

Nishant Kumar 40

Karthik Maniaraas 26*

Nenagh 2: 115 all out off 34.3 overs.

Shaoib Zazai 2-16

Tharun Bharathi 2-18

Prasad Hegde 2-20

* * *

Despite getting off to a decent start with the bat in this one, the outfield at the Croker’s Oval in Ballyneety could not absorb the heavy rain on Saturday afternoon for the local clash between Limerick 4ths and LImerick Blasters 3rds in Division 3. Limerick enjoyed some bright spells with the bat however, debutant Mohan Krishnappa scoring a well earned 49, unlucky to be one run shy of a maiden half century. Both captains agreed for the game to be abandoned, with a ‘no result’ determined in the table as both teams shared the points.

RESULT| MCU Division Three.

No result- match abandoned due to rain.

Limerick 4: 138-7 off

30 overs.

Mohan Krishnappa 49

Thomas Hancock 17

Limerick Blasters 3: 0/0 off 0 overs.

Next weekend sees all four teams in action in a jam-packed weekend for local cricket. The 2nds look to go one better in their clash away to Midleton and make it two from two for the season on Saturday afternoon, whilst the 4th XI will be back for the opening game in Adare against Waterford at the Manor Fields. The 3rds will look to continue their run at home to Midleton on Sunday with the main event taking place on the bank holiday Monday as Cork County will lock horns against Limerick’s 1st XI at midday in Adare.