With both 1st and 2nd XI taking respective breaks, attention turned to Limerick’s 3rd team where some exciting T20 action was eagerly anticipated. Off the back of a narrow defeat at the hands of Clare CC last weekend, Limerick had ample opportunity to bounce back with a double-header against Nenagh and Clonmel respectively. Knowing nothing less than two wins from two would guarantee their spot in the finals day, Nenagh posed the first challenge who were off the back of a 7-run win against the Limerick Blasters.

With the game reduced to 15 overs due to persistent rain, economical bowling would be key to limiting the opposition. Dwarakanath and Bogavelly kept things tight with Nenagh struggling to gain momentum, complemented by a tight fielding display and good captaincy from Waqas Mehmood. Setting a target of 103 from 15 overs however would mean no easy feat for Limerick with the bat with a required rate of just under 7 runs per over.

Limerick made inroads into the target and despite the loss of wickets, kept up with the run rate as they neared closer to victory. A brilliant anchoring innings by Sumukh Venkatesh in the middle order provided his counterparts with a licence to play. Needing 21 off the final two overs, Limerick needed to pull it out of the bag and some brilliant running between the wickets was topped off with a six off the penultimate ball of the game to crown a thrilling win.

RESULT| MCU Division Two T20 Cup.

We defeated Nenagh by 5 wickets today. 

  

Nenagh 2: 102-6 off 15 overs.

Darshan Dwarakanath 1-11

Chandra Sekeran 1-18

Abdul Baqi Khan 1-18

        

Limerick 3: 103-5 off 14.5 overs.

Sumukh Venkatesh 38*

Kumar Divyesh 14

Fortunes were not to be in the second encounter with Limerick maybe somewhat fatigued from their previous game. Electing to bat first on this occasion, forging any sort of partnership proved difficult as wickets tumbled with the Shannonsiders up against it.

Another anchoring innings from Venkatesh gave something for the bowlers to defend with a target of just 88 on the board for Clonmel to chase.

Nonetheless, Limerick showed great belief to defend what they had and Clonmel found themselves up against it. 

Limiting the boundaries and forcing the mistakes, Clonmel had it all to do when the capitulation of their top order left the score on 22-3 after 4 overs. The game really ebbed and flowed with both teams chipping away at their columns. A very tense finish was in store with Clonmel losing their ninth wicket on 83-9, requiring just five runs to win. The game went down to the last over, and indeed the last ball. With the scores tied, a single off the final delivery meant Clonmel edged the game by just one wicket in another very entertaining finish.

RESULT| MCU Division Two T20 Cup.

We lost to United Cricket Clonmel by 1 wicket today. 

        

Limerick 3: 86 all out off 19.5 overs.

Sumukh Venkatesh 43*

United Cricket Clonmel 1: 87-9 off 20 overs.

Anvesh Bogavelly 3-13

Waqas Mehmood 2-15

                                           * * *

Weather unfortunately proved to be the winner for the 4th XI on Saturday afternoon where skipper Ramji Lakshmanan was looking to get his side back to winning ways after suffering defeat to Cork Harlequins in their last game. Both captains agreed to reduce the game to 20 overs to try get a match in, and despite Limerick being able to bat out their allocation, Clare were unable to complete their own as a ‘No Result’ was agreed by both skippers in the later parts of the afternoon.

RESULT| MCU Division Three.

Match abandoned- no result. 

          

Limerick 4: 138-8 off 20 overs.

Muhammed Ammar 23

Siva Gujjula 17

County Clare 3: 77-2 after 13.3 overs. 

Chandra Sekeran 1-9

Ramji Lakshmanan 1-14

                                           * * *

Finally to youth where Limerick’s U15 side were finally able to get their campaign up and running. Lead by William Shields, the Shannonsiders were looking to retain their Superleague after winning the trophy in the 2023 season.

It was Limerick’s bowling attack which ultimately did the damage, as County Galway had no answers for some consistent line and length. Galway were always going to be up against it with Limerick’s batsmen setting a really good total of 119, conceding just three wickets as the middle order played with some free spirit after some good foundations were laid from the openers. 

The captain lead by example with a 27 not out from 23 deliveries, making an excellent opening stand with Robert McCutcheon (9* from 17) of 33 runs as the middle order followed with some timely contributions before the bowlers took control to hand Limerick a 38-run victory.

RESULT| MCU U15 Superleague.

We defeated County Galway by 38 runs on Friday.

Limerick: 118-3 off 20 overs. 

William Shields 27*

Ghufran Chaudhry 15*

County Galway: 80-7 off 20 overs.

Faizan Chaudhry 2-10

Atharvan Alagesan 1-4

                                           * * *

The T20s look set to continue next weekend with the 1st XI kicking off their campaign with a double-header at home on Sunday, taking on both Midleton and Cork Harlequins. The 2nd XI have qualified for their finals day which will take place on Saturday in Ballyneety, they will learn their destiny with the finals games of both pools being played midweek. Finally, the 4ths will have home T20s against Cork County on Saturday afternoon also. 

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