Dundalk Firsts edged out in rain-affected weekend

Dundalk Firsts and Tyrrelstown Thirds played a shortened 25-over match after a poor forecast. Dundalk won the toss but lost early wickets, with Yash Verma out for 15 and Liam Giggins bowled shortly after. Sakhi Jan steadied the innings, reaching an eleventh club fifty before drinks and finishing with 83 off 58 balls, including a 49-run sixth-wicket stand with Sanju Thomas. Dundalk posted 205/9, but rain delays created uncertainty for the chase. Tyrrelstown’s innings began poorly, with Syed Ibnan taking early wickets, yet Adarsh Hegde’s spell and Sharath Yerakala’s late surge turned the match. Yerakala scored 83 not out off 37 balls, hitting 15 boundaries to win the final-wicket showdown and condemn Dundalk to a second league defeat.

"A poor forecast prompted the captains to agree a shortened 25-over game which the hosts will have welcomed given their recent T20 form. Unfortunately, despite winning the toss the town didn't get off to a great start with the bat; in-form opener Yash Verma was caught behind on 15 inside five overs, while number three Liam Giggins was dismissed bowled two overs later. This didn't deter Dundalk wicketkeeper Sakhi Jan, who held firm to claim his eleventh club 50 before drinks."

"Sakhi would eventually make an impressive 83 off 58 balls, sharing a 49-run sixth-wicket stand with Sanju Thomas after the break despite wickets falling cheaply elsewhere. Given a lofty target of 206 and doubt over the result due to rain delays, Tyrrelstown had their work cut out. Dundalk skipper Syed Ibnan led from the front, opening the bowling and removing visiting keeper Srikanth Kunnkunuru for a duck as part of a wicket-maiden third over."

"Ibnan also dismissed Srikanth's opening partner Jibu Krishna before more rain stopped play in the tenth over, Tyrrelstown now 74/3 and needing runs. Adarsh Hegde was clinical after the 6pm restart, taking three quick wickets in a four-over spell which put the hosts firmly in the driving seat. These dismissals saw the introduction of Tyrrelstown opening bowler Sharath Yerakala, who turned the game on its head in the final six overs with a career-best innings of 83 not out off just 37 balls."

"Farming the strike at the death and protecting his lower-order colleagues, Yerakala hit 15 boundaries and held his nerve to win the final-wicket showdown and condemn Dundalk to just a second league defeat of the season. This was the only local cricket result in a wet weekend which also saw the abandonment of Dundalk Seconds' home fixture against Ongar Seconds."

Read at Irish Independent