Wexford Wanderers 1st team travelled to Sandyford on Saturday the 19th for their third cup game. The match was one of the most evenly fought contests between the current top two teams in Group D…
After winning the toss Wexford bowled 1st and were put under some pressure earlier on with Sandyfords openers getting to a decent start. However, Adeel took a crucial wicket and calmed things down. A good opening spell from Adeel taking two wickets and a great spell by Alan Murphy in the middle overs kept things under control. Alan bagged two wickets in his overs, bowling his usual tight and controlled stuff. He was well supported by both Nithin and Haq. Nithin and Haq closed the innings at dept with good tight bowling. Sandyford ended up with a total of 146 for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs with middle-order batsman Aiman getting a well-earned 50 runs.
In response, Wexford got on to a flyer with 50 odd runs in the first 6 overs with boundaries from both openers Sean Graham and Sharjeel. Sharjeel scored 32 and Graham posted 18. Wexford lost both the openers after a decent spell by Sandyford s captain. Haq and Ibrar continued to build a partnership when Haq got dismissed on 10. Ibrar continued to bat superbly similar to last weekend and ended up getting 40 runs, on his birthday. Nithin got out caught at long-on. Ibrar got caught out as well. In the end, Anji and Khalid were left to score the remaining runs.
Throughout the chase, Wexford were excellent in running in between wickets. Ibrars inning in the middle helped to maintain the required run-rate of around 8 to 9 in the last three overs. In the end, Wexford needed 12 runs in the last over. Khalid and Anji batted well and ran well, keeping Wexford close to the target. It was on a knife’s edge throughout the chase. Wexford needed 6 runs off the last two balls. Khalid hit a boundary on the last-second ball. 2 needed in 1 ball, unfortunately, Khalid got run out on the 2nd run and the scores were level. Match ended in a draw and points were equally shared. A first draw for the season and the first game in which the club dropped points. Both teams are level on points at the top of the group after 3 games played, it’s anyone’s division at the halfway point.
Captain Sharjeel said after the match “It was the best match so far of the season and many things to learn from it. Hopefully, we will improve from the experience.”
On a Sunny Father’s Day, our second XI travel to Carlow to play our second game in Group D of the minor cup. Wexford skipper Stefan Carty won the toss and elected to bowl, opening the bowling was Sean Faulkner and Stefan. Carlow looked to get off to a quick start and after the first 4 overs they had 25/0 on the board. Gireesh Nair then came into the attack and got very unlucky with more than one shot coming off the edge and going to the boundary (as the old saying goes, if you’re going to swipe, swipe HARD).
Bishnu with his quick spin came into the attack and the Carlow batsmen had no answers for him & brought the run rate right back! Luca Forte came on at the other end and took two wickets in his first over to remove one of the Carlow openers. Paul Wise and Nick Rooney bowled exceptionally too, causing all sorts of problems for the batsmen! The mat in Carlow suited the medium pacers and spin bowlers on this occasion.
We required 112 to Win, Tony Murray And Wise opened the batting and put on a masterclass 101 run partnership that all but sealed the win! Both Batsmen controlled the tempo of the game and really showed some quality shots! Tony’s wicket fell when going for a Big Six, but Bishnu came out and immediately in the game hitting two fours and finishing the game.
The top order has been in great form since the start of the season and as Wisey said after the match today “it’s not lucky that we’re playing this well, it’s down to our training and hard work being put in”.
At the same time as our second team were kicking off in Carlow our 3rd team were making their debut this season at home to Gorey. A special occasion for the club on fathers day as we had Martin Shedian Pope take to the field with his two sons Eoin and Aaron as well as Stephen Vuyk and his son Matthew. Ramesh was also in attendance and helped to umpire as his son Kenul played, a real family affair on the day.
Wexford Wanderers won the toss and decided to bat. A steady start from opening bats Martin Sheridan-Pope(retired 10) and Fahim (9) saw Wexford 25 for 1 off 4 overs. However, it was when the Father and son partnership of Steven (21 retired) and Mathew Vuyk (34n.o) came to wicket runs accelerated. A partnership of 54 saw Wexford 71 off 14 overs. At the end of 20 overs, Wexford were 95 for 6 wkts. The best of the bowlers for Gorey was Brady who finished with 1 wicklet for just 2 runs off his two overs and Oscar 2 overs 10 for 2.
Matthew Vuyk and Aaron Sheridan-Pope opened the bowling for Wexford and kept it very tight. After 2 overs Matthew had figures of 5 for 2. Abban Moran 8 for 1, Eoin Sheridan-Pope 8 for 1, Steven Vuyk 13 for 2, Darragh Moran 16 for 1 all bowled well. Matthew finished with figures of 20 for 2 off 4 overs.
The bowlers had excellent support from fielding by Wexford. The saying “hold your catches to win matches” certainly was evident today.4 excellent slip catches by Aaban Moran and 1 fabulous catch by his brother Darragh in Gully were features of the fielding along with some excellent wicket-keeping by Fahim who was making his debut for Wexford Wanderers. An excellent last-wicket stand by Gorey 1st teamers Razwan (25n.o) and Brady (16) made it an exciting finish. Steven Vuyk clean bowling Brady in the 19th over gave Wexford a 2 run victory.
A big thanks to Peter Hudson who got the game over the line as the captain for the day. A big thanks to all the men and boys who played this weekend and a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads/granddads in the club! Always a tough weekend getting 33 players at different levels to play so well. Wexford Wanderers remain undefeated in the 2021 season.
This article was written by Wexford Cricket Club, Wexford Wanderers.
