Email This Article To Someone!Following on from their recent success against South East Trinidad U17’s, Ireland came up against Kenya in the first round of the group stages of the Clico International U-15 cricket championships at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, Trinidad.
This is the first clash at this age level between these top associate nations. Winning the toss, Hugh MacDonnell invited Kenya to bat on a wicket that held some overnight moisture and in slightly overcast conditions. Opening bowlers Shane Getkate and Eoghan Conway kept things very tight restricting Kenya to 28 for 2 off the first 10 overs.
Kenya’s no 3 batsman Emmanuel Bundi had also retired hurt and was taken to hospital to for scan after being hit in the midriff. Irfan Karim and Kennedy Owino came together and put on 48 for the 3rd wicket before Owino was caught at mid on by Eoghan Conway off the bowling of George Dockrell in his 3rd over.
The introduction of Dockrell’s slow left arm and Jonathon Andrews leg spin saw Ireland put the squeeze on the Kenyan batsman when they bowled 20 overs unchanged including 10 maidens, restricting Kenya to just 17 runs in that spell loosing 4 wickets. George Dockrell returned match figures of 10 overs 6 maidens 9 runs and 2 wickets, Jonathon Andrews returned the equally impressive figures of 10 overs 4 maidens 8 runs for 2 wickets.
Captain Hugh MacDonnell re-introduced Shane Getkate to immediate effect picking up 3 quick wickets before finishing his excellent 10 over spell which included 5 maidens, 17 runs for 4 wickets. He bowled Irfan Karim, a classy left hander, who showed great patience and composure in compiling his 46 runs to top score for Kenya. Ben Wylie bowling slow left arm had also been introduced and he picked up the last wicket to fall. Wylie showed excellent composure to bowl in the last 15 overs and his 7 overs only conceded 24 runs for 1 wicket bowling at the death.
Kenya were bowled out for 110 in the last over of the innings. Ireland showed very good discipline with their bowling but were sometimes let down in the field by some sloppy handling.
In reply Ireland got off to a solid start reaching 49 without loss off the first 15 overs before MacDonnell holed out at long off, off the bowling of off spinner Jigar Kerai. He was quickly followed by fellow opener Wylie who was out LBW to left arm spinner Neel Shah.
No 3 batsman, George Dockrell was joined at the crease by Shane Getkate and the pair set about chasing down the target in clinical fashion. Dockrell should have seen the game home from that point but there 47 partnership was broken when Dockrell (16) miss timed a drive and was caught and bowled with the total on 97.
Getkate (31*) and Jason van der Merwe (11*) quickly chased down the remaining runs to give Ireland a comfortable 7 wicket victory. Shane Getkate was named man of the match for his fine all round display. The Ireland team now face the West Indies in the Queens Park Oval on Sunday the 27th.