HALVERSTOWN OAKS: 94 All Out off 18.1 overs
Batting: C.Johnston 20* T.Gayle 20 * D.McConaghy 18
Bowling: D.Drumm 2-1-6-1 M.Case 2-0-9-1 P.Carroll 2-0-14-1 N.O’Reilly 2-0-16-1
P.O’Suicru 2-0-12-0 J.Kirby 2.5-0-18-0 T.Gayle 1-0-8-0 D.McConaghy 1-0-9-0
NORTH KILDARE: 95 for 5 off 14.5 overs
Batting: Maruthi 23* Johann 13* Dave 12* E. Chang 11*
Bowling: N.Case 2-0-5-1 J.Habbington 2-0-7-1 Kevin 2-0-17-1 Dave 1-0-3-0
The first outing of the season for The Oaks was a mixed (cricket) bag: an enjoyable outing that shows there is room for improvement! Records are usually something you are pleased to achieve: 5 runouts is probably a record for Halverstown, but one I certainly wouldn’t be happy with. Calling was either non-existent, too reckless or too cautious when it actually did occur and the running between wickets poor. Will has some work on his hands at Nets on Thursday! The performance in the field was no better, I am afraid, with many runs conceded by overthrows because of failure to back up. There were also dropped catches aplenty and an extraordinary 20 wides in under 16 overs. But maybe I am nit-picking; it was a good evening out and we had some unexpectedly good batting performances as well as a couple of good bowling figures.
North Kildare were a man short and we graciously allowed Neville Case to play for them. Winning the toss, we batted first but were soon in trouble. Steve Rix was out to his second ball, caught off a pretty good shot in over 1. Over 3 saw Jon Kirby run out and Stuart Conroy bowled by an almost unplayable inswinger from our own Neville, rather ungratefully. Mark Case was then run out. Thank goodness for David McConaghy who with good northern grit stuck in there, until run out on 18. Two other good innings put a gloss on the score, with Cecil and Terry both retiring on 20 before I ended the innings prematurely by running out Niall.
We struggled to cope with their opener Maruthi who retired on 23 but otherwise our bowling stats (except for the wides!) were not too bad with wickets for myself ( caught-bowled)), Mark Case (a bowled that his Dad would have proud), Paddy (a solid catch by Steve Rix) and Niall (in his well known stumping double act with Cecil). Patrick, a new and occasional cricketer, bowled two good overs with only one wide; others take note.
North Kildare won rather too comfortably for my liking, with double figure scores from Ed, Dave and Johann, but I suppose versus the 10 wicket defeat by them last year we should regard it as progress of a sort. Get to work Will!
Written by Des Drumm.