Nenagh Cricket Club record back to back wins
Nenagh Cricket Club defeated defending champions Limerick in Munster Division 1 T20 League to boost their hopes of a strong finish in the league.
With rain predictions in the forecast, after winning the toss, Nenagh captain Ginson Abraham decided to bat first on dry conditions. Nenagh’s openers started positively by hitting a boundary each in the first two overs, however after losing Anulal V bowled for eight in the third over with team score at 21/1, our scoring rate has been kept on check by a determined Limerick side.
Ginson Abraham played a patient innings of 47 runs of 54 balls which included six fours and one six, to keep Nenagh in the game. With the last four overs to go and score at 102/4, Nenagh needed to push the scoring rate to get to a decent total, Sreehari Vinobhaji (22 not out of just 14 balls) and Lethin Mathew 17 provided that impetus to the innings. After twenty overs, Nenagh posted a par score of 140/6.
A shower followed the innings break and lead to a slight delay to Limerick reply. Nenagh’s bowlers conceded some extra runs alongside big hitting by Limerick openers powered them to a flying start with bat. Fast bowler Tiju George sent both hard-hitting openers back to pavilion in successive overs. Despite of that effort, Limerick were still in a strong position of 85/2 off twelve overs in the chase.
In the next two overs, the run out of Saurabh Teke (11 runs) by Anulal V and the wicket of in form batsmen Victor Van Der Schyff (26) who was bowled by a peach of a delivery by Ebin Baby switched the momentum towards Nenagh. Sensing the opportunity, Nenagh lifted their game to tighten the screws on the opponents as Limerick were 95/4 at 14 overs.
Nenagh needed to defend 23 runs from last two overs to win. Jojin Mathew, who took three wickets for 26 runs and Sreenivas Maniappen who bowled last over, did that to perfection and handed Nenagh their second victory of the season by five runs.
Ebin Mathew (two wickets for 21 runs) and Tiju George (two wickets for 28 runs) also shone with the ball. Wicketkeeper batsman Sreehari Vinobhaji won the MVP award, after hitting a crucial 22 runs, he took two catches then effected a stumping and run out.
Full scorecard is available in Nenagh Cricket Club Facebook page and CricHQ website.