Limerick Cricket Club storm past Midleton into Senior Cup last four

LIMERICK Cricket Club are into the MCU Senior Cup semi-finals following a 78-run win over Midleton in Cork on Sunday evening.

It's a huge victory for the senior side after two previous losses to Midleton earlier in the year but a century from Arslan Anwar, as well as a half century by Tim Smithies helped Limerick CC to the victory.

Figures of 6-40 from Mirhamza Ahmedzai also helped the cause greatly and they will look to be avenging last season's last four defeat to get a place in the final on September 24.

Midleton put Limerick into bat first and excelled with the ball early on. The swinging ball caused problems for both Sayyam and Borghare who departed early.

Nishant Kumar joined the returning Smithies to the crease but was soon dismissed to an outside edge to see the visitors on 68-4 and in need of a partnership. Limerick captain Arslan Anwar joined his trusted partner in the middle to survive a few early scares and stabilise the fall of wickets. 

The two worked in tandem as Midleton’s momentum faded and the scoreboard ticked over with both players making 50s and shortly after, securing a 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Smithies would soon depart on 195-5 but Anwar wasn’t finished as he accelerated his strike rate to land another century, the second fifty coming in just 36 deliveries, before eventually succumbing for a total of 128, that included 13 fours and three sixes, which helped them to a final run score of 299.

Midleton found themselves on 31-5 in the early stages of their run-chase but some solid partnerships saw them over the 200 mark but Mirhamza Ahmedzai's devastating performance saw them all out for 221 in the 43rd over and it was Limerick CC that booked their spot in the semi-final.

The Division One side finished their season with the visit of Nenagh to the Manor Fields in Adare on Saturday afternoon. An outstanding bowling performance restricted Nenagh to just 163, putting Limerick CC in a strong position. 

In response, Limerick opener Sourabh Teke stole the show with some lovely stroke play, exemplifying the control and timing any captain would want to see from their opener. Teke raced to his half-century but fell 13 short of his century. However, Limerick eased home to the win by six wickets.

In Division Two, Limerick CC welcomed top of the table Cork County to Adare on Sunday but fell to a heavy defeat. Waqas Mehmood's 47 was the highlight of the game but Limerick were well beaten by a high class Cork outfit.

The thirds finish their campaign against Nenagh this coming Sunday but the main focus will be on the first XI with two games against Cork Harlequins over the weekend.

The opener takes place in Manor Fields on Saturday in Limerick CC's final league game of the season. The same sides meet at the same venue on Sunday with in the Senior Cup semi-final. Quins are the current holders and are aiming to reach the final once more. The winners play Cork County or UCC in the final.